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MotoGP, Michele Pirro: "The problems of the GP23? The GP24 was born with new tires."

Ducati tester in Barcelona with the VR46 team. "The fall in FP1? It was unbelievable, the brakes weren't at temperature. I really missed not being able to race this year."

MotoGP: Michele Pirro:

On the last weekend of the championship in Barcelona, Michele Pirro also took to the track. Like Iannone in Malaysia, he raced  to help the VR46 team  replace Di Giannantonio on his GP23. The Ducati rider and test rider lost the front end in the first free practice session: a misstep dictated by the difficult track conditions combined with his low presence this season, due to the absence of wild cards, which he was used to in the past.

"The conditions were different when I tested here, in Barcelona, with the GP24," Michele Pirro began. "It's normal that the sensations on the bike this weekend may be related to the conditions or to the bike. Now it's a matter of waiting two, three days to see the real numbers on the track."

After getting on the GP23, do you better understand the problems with the front Marc complained about throughout the year?
"Yes, the problem is that, compared to last year, these new Michelin bikes have more grip and, in entering corners, the bike pushes on the front, making cornering more difficult. It needs more support on the front with a harder compound, which isn't a problem on the GP24, instead, since it was born with these tires."

Was this morning's fall caused by the tires?
"It was unbelievable, a situation that made me lose confidence. I pulled the brakes on the straight, because I thought they were up to temperature, like the tires were. Instead, I immediately lost the front, because they were still cold. Even at the end of the session, I took a risk, which is unbelievable, but these are the conditions, and they're at the limit."

In general, what was it like to be back in the MotoGP. This year, you didn't have the opportunity like in the past.
"This is the last race of the season. Many riders by now have a good feeling with the bike because they've been racing on it for a year. Not being able to race this year with wild cards like in past years weighed heavily on me. My pace is good, but things change when the other riders push, because  you normally work on pace in testing, while you don't have to deal with situations like today when you push."

 

Translated by Leila Myftija

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