Michele Pirro has been a Ducati test and reserve rider since 2013, an increasingly important role in the MotoGP World Championship. His history with the Italian brand dates back to 2012, when Pirro completed his only full season in the premier class. Unable to find a permanent place with a team for 2013, Ducati offered him the job as a test driver.
Since then, Michele Pirro has competed in several races each year, the best result of which was a fourth place at Valencia 2018. Satisfied with the Italian’s work, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer wanted to continue his idyllic contract, and now Pirro is about to celebrate his tenth season with the team.
However, when the test rider joined Ducati, the Italian marque did not stand a chance against the powerful Yamaha and Honda. Under cover of this situation, the team was forced to restructure itself internally, with Gigi Dall’Igna as the new general manager.
Pyrrhus witnessed this conversion process up close.
“Gigi made Ducati a group so that everyone gives their best and contributes their ideas. He is a teacher and a genius, on and off the track,” reflects Pirro in ‘ GPOne.com’ .
The relationship between Pirro and Gigi Dall’Igna was not ideal initially, but time was in charge of fixing those differences.
“Yes, there were problems because I wanted to be a driver again. But he wanted me as a test driver. So when Stoner came back, I thought it was my time.”
This was at the beginning of 2016, and soon after, the offers were not long in coming. “I also had proposals from other brands, but in the end I stayed with the Ducati family. I think the development work at Borgo Panigale was also noticed and commented on by other manufacturers, so I stayed with them.”
“It was the right decision for Gigi to make me a tester. He has brought a lot to the project in recent years and you can see the results. Unfortunately, we haven’t won the World Drivers’ Championship yet, but we are on our way,” he added.
In this process, Pirro places Casey Stoner as a fundamental pillar in the metamorphosis of Ducati, becoming world champion in 2007.
“Casey solved the bike’s problems with his extraordinary talent.”
The Australian driver enjoyed four interesting years in his racing career as the protagonist of the Borgo Panigale factory
“Now Ducati is a bike for everyone. ‘Pecco’, Miller and Martin won, but also Dovizioso, Petrucci and Lorenzo. Zarco and Bastianini also got on the podium. Now the Ducati is a very fast bike,” he concluded.
