Michele Pirro returned to MotoGP last week by competing in the Solidarity GP of Barcelona. With Ducati not having any wildcards this season, it was his only appearance in the premier class in 2024.
Additionally, he raced as a replacement rider for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team—a new environment for him. The Italian admitted that it was a situation very different from what he was used to, and also distinct from past experiences:
– It’s another story compared to five or six years ago. There were my wildcards, with my team, my bike. The level is a bit different, because there are many good bikes. So, I prepare for the race much better. And when you come at the end of the season for a race with another team, different people, it’s not simple. And normally in my wildcards I use a bit newer bike.
Satisfied with his performance in Barcelona, Pirro didn’t shy away from highlighting the challenges he faced: ‘Overall, I’m really happy, because I enjoyed with the fast riders. I was 1s to 1.5s off, it’s not so bad for my level. For sure, if it had been at the beginning of the season it would have been another story, but at the end of the season is not simple, and at a track where they raced three or four months ago, it’s not simple’.