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Ducati Taps Michele Pirro to Replace Injured Marc Marquez for Australian GP

Ducati turns to its veteran tester at Phillip Island pending Marquez’s recovery from a coracoid fracture.

Overview

  • The factory team confirmed Pirro will ride the Desmosedici at Phillip Island on October 17–19 alongside Francesco Bagnaia.
  • Marquez was diagnosed in Madrid with a fracture at the base of the coracoid process and a right‑shoulder ligament injury after a first‑lap collision with Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia.
  • He is ruled out of both the Australian and Malaysian rounds and is following a conservative plan of rest and immobilisation with weekly assessments.
  • Pirro’s appearance will be his 70th premier‑class start on a Ducati and his first MotoGP race since the 2024 Barcelona finale.
  • Ducati has not named a Sepang replacement, with concession rules prohibiting wildcards and limiting the team to official stand‑ins.