Ducati Calls Up Michele Pirro as Gresini Loses Alex Marquez for Mugello

Gresini Racing has officially confirmed Michele Pirro as the replacement for injured Alex Marquez at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. The decision follows the major crash suffered by Marquez during the Catalan Grand Prix, which has ruled him out of the next two MotoGP rounds.

Alex Marquez sustained collarbone and vertebrae injuries in the Barcelona accident, forcing the Spanish rider to miss both Mugello and the upcoming Balaton Park event. His absence represents a significant setback for Gresini during a critical phase of the 2026 MotoGP season.

Under MotoGP regulations, teams are required to make “every reasonable effort” to provide a qualified substitute rider within ten days of a rider’s withdrawal. Ducati has once again turned to its experienced test rider Pirro, who remains one of the most trusted development figures inside the Bologna manufacturer.

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This will not be Pirro’s first appearance with Gresini in 2026. Earlier in the season, the 39-year-old Italian replaced Fermin Aldeguer during the season-opening Thai Grand Prix while the rookie recovered from leg injuries sustained during winter training.

On that occasion, Pirro rode the satellite-spec Ducati GP25 and finished 19th across the weekend. However, his role at Mugello carries greater significance as he will now step onto the factory-level GP26 machine that previously delivered Alex Marquez victory at Jerez earlier this season.

From an experience standpoint, Mugello remains one of Pirro’s strongest circuits due to his extensive history as Ducati’s long-time test rider. Before MotoGP’s updated concession rules limited wildcard appearances for Ducati, Pirro regularly competed at his home race and frequently produced competitive performances.

His best Mugello result came in 2019 when he secured seventh place. Overall, Pirro has recorded five top-ten finishes at the Italian Grand Prix, underlining both his familiarity with the circuit and his ability to deliver solid performances despite limited race opportunities.

However, Ducati’s current concession status means the manufacturer no longer enjoys the same wildcard flexibility as in previous years. As a result, Pirro has not participated in the Italian Grand Prix since 2023, focusing primarily on Ducati’s extensive testing and development programme behind the scenes.

For Ducati, Pirro’s presence also provides important technical value. His deep understanding of the GP26 package and Ducati’s current development direction could prove useful during a crucial home event where the manufacturer is expected to remain the benchmark.

Although expectations for outright results remain realistic given his limited race mileage, Pirro’s consistency and technical feedback are considered highly valuable for Ducati at a demanding circuit like Mugello.

Alex Marquez’s absence also extends the growing injury list ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Johann Zarco has already been ruled out following his Catalunya crash, while LCR Honda is yet to officially announce its replacement rider.

With Ducati under pressure to maintain its dominance at Mugello and several major riders sidelined after the chaotic Catalunya weekend, the 2026 Italian MotoGP is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable races of the season so far.