Michele Pirro has spoken out fiercely in defense of Francesco Bagnaia as pressure mounts on the two-time world champion. In an exclusive interview with GPone at the Dunlop CIV event in Cremona, Ducati's official test rider made his stance clear. “We cannot erase what he has done for Ducati,” Pirro stated, as quoted by Motosan.es.
The comment comes amid a season of unpredictability for Ducati. After dominating at MotorLand Aragon and Misano, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer struggled at the Red Bull Ring—a track that has traditionally been their stronghold. Pirro admitted this year has been hard to forecast. “We've grown used to ups and downs at tracks that seem favorable or unfavorable. At Misano we were expected to struggle, yet we won convincingly. At Spielberg, where we usually dominate, we had difficulties,” he explained.
For Pirro, this inconsistency is not an anomaly but a hallmark of the current championship. He sees no logical explanation behind Ducati's fluctuating form. “It's strange; there's no logical explanation,” he said. Yet he insisted the team will not give up. “The World Championship will end in Valencia, and we'll see: we've done everything possible and will continue to do so. We don't give up, considering that a few months ago everything seemed lost,” he added.
Pirro also showed composure when addressing the pressure mounting on Nicolo Bulega, who is tipped to step up to MotoGP with the new generation. According to him, it's too early to draw conclusions. “It's too early to make conclusions,” he said, giving Bulega room to develop without excessive burden.
Ultimately, the support for Bagnaia is Pirro's core message. He reminded the public that Bagnaia's contributions to Ducati cannot be forgotten just because of a difficult period. “We have to go day by day, step by step,” he concluded. With the season still long, Ducati will continue to adapt track by track, hoping momentum swings back in their favor.
Analysis: Pirro's statement reflects Ducati's effort to maintain team mental stability amid intensifying competition. With fluctuating performance, internal support is key to keeping Bagnaia focused and preparing the generational transition with Bulega.
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