Michele Pirro

Reigning MotoGP champion Ducati will continue to reply on long-time test rider Michele Pirro for development duties and replacement rides in 2025.

Michele Pirro - Route to MotoGP

After only 3 points to show for 29 starts in 125GP between 2003 and 2006, Michele Pirro revived his career with a pair of victories in the 2010 World Supersport championship.

Pirro used that success to secure a full-time seat in the four-stroke Moto2 class the following year, with Gresini, where he celebrated two podiums, including victory in the Valencia finale.

Michele Pirro in MotoGP

Pirro's Moto2 success propelled him into MotoGP, again with Gresini, riding one of the 'CRT' bikes, fitted with an FTR chassis.

Valencia again provided a high point, with fifth place in the wet race, but Pirro had already committed to becoming a Ducati test rider for 2013.

It was well timed, with Gigi Dall’Igna arriving to head the struggling project a year later.

Pirro has combined his development duties with at least one MotoGP race start every season since, including a career best of fourth place at Valencia in 2018.

His testing efforts have also been rewarded with riders' titles for Ducati in 2022, 2023 and 2024, when new concession rules prevented Pirro from making any wild-cards but he still stepped in as an injury replacement for VR46's Fabio di Giannantonio at Valencia.