It has been confirmed that Michele Pirro will stand in for the injured Marc Marquez at the Australian Grand Prix.
After suffering collarbone injuries at the Indonesian Grand Prix, Marc Marquez will miss the Australian and Malaysian Grand Prix.
It was revealed after his collision with Marco Bezzecchi that Marquez had fractured his right collarbone and sustained ligament damage in the incident at the Mandalika International Street Circuit.
It has now been confirmed by Ducati that their Test Rider, Michele Pirro, will replace the nine-time Grand Prix World Champion at Phillip Island.
The Italian has not been able to wildcard during the 2025 season, due to the current concession rules not allowing Ducati to field a wildcard rider. Pirro last appeared on the MotoGP grid at the 2024 Solidarity Grand Prix as a replacement rider in the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.
A statement from the Ducati Lenovo Team reads:
"Following the injury that has forced Marc Marquez to miss the next two rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season, the Ducati Lenovo Team confirms that Michele Pirro will replace him at the Aussie appointment.
"At Phillip Island, the Italian, official Ducati Test Rider since 2013, will race his 70th GP in the Premier class aboard the Desmosedici.
"As announced before, Marc is in Madrid recovering."
Pirro has not raced at Phillip Island since his last full-time season in the MotoGP World Championship in 2012. At the time, the Italian was racing for the San Carlo Honda Gresini squad, and finished in 14th place at the Australian Grand Prix.
