« We have the two best test pilots in the world » said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati boss, during the presentation of the brand's MotoGP team. Michele Pirro and Casey Stoner are indeed these two precious men.
After winning the 125cc European Championship in 3, Pirro scored his first points in the 2004cc world championship the following year, before finishing fifth in the Supersport World Championship in 125. He was then part of Fausto Gresini's team for race in Moto3. His emotional victory in Valencia, during the last race of the year and shortly after the death of Marco Simoncelli, reinforced the confidence that Fausto Gresini placed in him and Pirro obtained the handlebars of the FTR MGP2010 Honda that the Gresini team fielded in CRT and with which the Italian made his MotoGP debut in 2.
Pirro then joined Ducati as a test rider and took part in several races each year, as a wild card or as a substitute when one of the Italian brand's riders was unavailable. In 2016, he made his first appearance of the year in the second round, in Argentina, where he drove Danilo Petrucci's GP15.
In 2017, he participated in 3 GPs and placed 9th in Mugello, 5th in Misano and 9th in Valencia (only Ducati rider among the top 12). Aged 31, the rider from San Giovanni Rotondo – near Foggia, in Puglia – has participated in 96 Grands Prix, including 49 in MotoGP.
For Michele, “I am proud to be here and to have shared great successes last season. The time has come to confirm at a high level. »
“I will try to do my part and I will constantly commit to being in the top 5 in the competitions I enter. It won't be easy but I'll give it my all. »
“Standing alongside champions like Stoner, Lorenzo et Dovizioso, has made me improve in many ways, I just have to try to improve further. The goal will be to confirm. »
“Andrea and Lorenzo will, I believe, fight for the World Championship, and I will have to match them, even in the test team working behind the scenes. »
“This year the V4 makes its debut and I am happy to be able to help this bike too. This season, I had the opportunity to follow the drivers closely. I had to play the role of “angry policeman”, giving directions not only as a driver and friend but pushing more helped me. A bit like what Dall'Igna does with us, who is very strict when necessary. »
Photo © Ducati
Source: motograndprix.motorionline.com
