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Michele Pirro could not fail to be at the Ducati stand at EICMA. Having arrived in Milan before heading to Barcelona for the final round of the MotoGP season, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer's test rider took advantage of the setting offered by the fair to meet fans and enthusiasts. But also to take the stage and present the new trophy organized by Garage 51 with the support of Ducati and FMI.
"I went to Spain, then to Vallelunga and then came to Milan. Next week I'm going to Barcelona for the World Championship final. Who's going to win? A Ducati and that is already a great achievement. I am happy that we have proven once again the quality of the MotoGP project and being part of this family for so many years is a source of pride," Michele said.
Speaking of Ducati, you surprised us all today by introducing the new V4 Elite Cup.
"Ducati will return to the trophies after a few years, with this competition just for amateur riders. It will be held in the context of the Italian Championship, which is the most important at the national level. So, I have to thank Ducati and the Federation, because together we have produced a format devoted above all to safety. With a rolling start and allowing people to realize that an amateur can have fun with Ducati production bikes, thinking only about riding. This is the goal of the format, which I believe can be a starting point as far as amateur motorcycle racing and the Ducati community is concerned, which will no longer have to wait only for WDW to get together."
Have you researched into this idea yourself?
"This is a little bit about what we started doing at Garage 51. But this is just the basis from which to start. Ducati in recent years has shown that it has performance bikes at all levels, so we are preparing to go in shortly with something dedicated to young riders. Because this is also what we want to focus on for the future: we started with the school for mechanics, but we would also like to create something like KTM did with the Rookies Cup. The new bikes, like the V2, lend themselves with level performance."
What Ducati will we see at Barcelona for 2025?
"As we have done in recent years, you will find it difficult to see and notice the evolution. But, like every year, we try to improve, and I think the 2025 bike is also a further step forward. And the latest tests have confirmed that. There are no revolutions but small improvements, which will also have to be confirmed on the other tracks. Since for the time being we have only ridden at Jerez and Misano. Barcelona will be a very important test bench, also because then we will have two months in the winter to prepare for Sepang. This year there is really little time, because then there is the first race right away."
Will there be a clear jump between this year's bike and the GP25 like there was between the GP23 and the GP24?
"The idea is always that, because it would mean that we have found something. But it's not easy, and it would already be good to take a step forward like the one between GP22 and GP23, which would allow us to always be competitive. I think what makes the difference is to be competitive in all 20 races and not just some of them. This year the GP24 has proven to be competitive in all phases. Which between GP22 and GP23 maybe hadn't happened. It's not so obvious and it's not so easy to find that half a tenth to improve a bike that is really good. We're working on it, though, and we can't wait for Pecco and Marc to try it out. I'm curious to try it too on a track where there is usually little grip, like Barcelona."
What would you call this new bike?
"The right term, when the new aerodynamics come in, I think it's more badass. It is even more of a racer bike, because we fixed some things for Pecco. So, it might have some characteristics that go in the direction of brakers like Bagnaia and Marquez."
How do you see Marc doing in this first test where he will go from the GP23 to GP25?
"Calmly. He also has the GP24. He will try both of them. I expect him to go up and say, 'okay, everything is a little bit better.' Not that he's going half a second or eight tenths faster. I don't expect revolutions or special things."
Speaking instead of the Panigale V4, it will need a big contribution from you to be able to beat Toprak.
"On this matter we have to say that Ducati has a strategy, so it will need a process that started with the new bike with the double-arm swingarm. All the riders liked it and it really works very well. As the back-to-back we did at Vallelunga also showed. It will take a year of patience, and our riders will have to put their own spin on it because we know that it is a project that has reached the development level. That does not mean we are standing idle, there are ideas, but it is also true that resources are needed for a future project and in March we will do the first tests with the new SBK 2026. I think that is the real change. Hopefully, Toprak will not do the Toprak of this year and Bulega will do a little bit more."
You, however, also play an important role in that aspect.
"The problem is that the blanket is short. In MotoGP the engines will be frozen from next year, while in SBK it won't happen. But you have to decide whether to invest in the development of a bike that will be gone from next year. Then there is to say that we came in 2nd and 3rd place, so we would have been protagonists without Toprak. It's part of the projects and eras, and the single-sided V4 one is at the end. However, I have confidence that Bulega, with a little more experience, can be in the game. Then there are Iannone, Petrucci, Bautista... It is clear, however, that Toprak is Toprak. He is a great rider and we will see how he will do."
