The Ducati Lenovo team prepares for the 19th round of the season at Phillip Island with a new duo. Following the accident at the Indonesian Grand Prix, world champion Marc Marquez is out after undergoing surgery to stabilize a fracture of the base of the coracoid process and ligament damage to his right shoulder. An opportunity for Pecco Bagnaia to regain the status of leader in his box?
For this Australian round, Marquez will be replaced by the test driver of the Desmosedici GP,
Michele Pirro. This will be the 70th race of
Pirro in the Queen category.
Phillip Island is a historic circuit for
Ducatiwho has triumphed there six times, including the four consecutive victories of Casey Stoner from 2007 to 2010, and the most recent Johann Zarco
in 2023 and
Marc Marquez in 2024.
Despite the lack of victory at Phillip Island, Francesco Pecco Bagnaia has shown great consistency in recent years, with three consecutive podiums (3rd in 2024, 2nd in 2023, 3rd in 2022). After a difficult weekend in Mandalika, the objective is clear: regain the good feeling and consistency.
Pecco Bagnaia: « I have always been fast and consistent in Australia, even if without a victory »
The Italian comments: “ Phillip Island is a spectacular, breathtaking circuit… In recent years, I have always been fast and consistent here, even if without a victory. We are working hard to understand exactly what happened in Mandalika… The goal is to find the same feeling we had on the Motegi track. »
The test pilot Michele Pirro is delighted to return to one of the most popular circuits, while sending his wishes for a speedy recovery to
Marquez.
« I wish Marc a speedy recovery so that he can fully honor on track the title he won with the Desmosedici GP… Australia is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and spectacular circuits for a return to MotoGP. This will be my 70th race in the Queen categoryso thanks to Ducati: let’s make the most of this working weekend. »
The MotoGP Australian Grand Prix begins this Friday October 17 with the first free practice session at 10:45 a.m. local time.
Given the objective of Bagnaia to rediscover the feeling of the GP Japan after the weekend of Mandalikait will be necessary to see if his knowledge of
Phillip Islandwhere he is very consistent, will give him the necessary advantage to ensure a victory, especially with the absences of Marquez et
Martin.
