With their 100th MotoGP World Championship victory, Ducati achieved a historic feat at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The official test rider for the Italian brand, Michele Pirro, was selected to represent the company on the podium and accept the manufacturers’ trophy in celebration of this accomplishment. But another message was received throughout this festivity.
Pirro, a mainstay of the Desmosedici’s development for many years, was essential in assisting Ducati in reaching this performance level. Due to Ducati’s wild-card rules, he was unable to compete in 2024, but his work in the background has kept the company on the cutting edge of technology. The Italian has taken part in several Grand Prix races as a wild-card and reserve driver, but in his two full-time seasons in 2012 and 2013, he has never had the chance to finish on the podium in the top class.
This podium result was a unique experience for Pirro. Thanks to his job as a developer, he was able to finally experience this historic moment even though he did not receive a podium as a driver. With years of involvement in the development of the Desmosedici, Ducati’s gesture highlights the significance of his contribution to the brand’s success.
George Martin, the pilot of Prima Pramac and a crucial player in this Grand Prix that saw Bastianini succeed to his detriment in the known conditions, responded as follows when asked about Pirro’s presence on the podium: “It’s certain that Michele is part of our bike, because he develops a lot and he does a lot of laps.” He stated on motorcyclesports, “But as for me, I don’t care who got up there because it was the Ducati squad and not the Pramac team.
Sufficient to bring a sense of unease to this emblematic festivity that was unable to conceal the mounting strain between the Ducati manufacturer and his prospective 30-year ex-partner. PramacThe previously clear relationship appeared to vanish abruptly, as if the ink that had wet the pen Marc Marquez used to sign an official contract with the factory team Martinator claims he had been guaranteed had evaporated.
Under the Gresini colors, there is also a Marc Marquez on this podium of circumstance. However, George Martin omits them, seemingly to more clearly pinpoint his opponent and the people who gave rise to his resentment. Not only will this season finale partially take place in the tropics, but it also looks like it will be extremely hot.
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