Michele Pirro to Sub for Injured Di Giannantonio at Final MotoGP Round
Cycle News Staff | November 12, 2024
Andrea Iannone’s MotoGP return will stand as one race after the Italian was not given a second call-up to replace injured Fabio Di Giannantonio in the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team at this weekend’s season-ending Solidarity GP at the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya.
Michele Pirro will get a turn on the VR46 Ducati at the Solidarity GP in Barcelona.
Instead, the team has decided on running long-time Ducati Corse test rider Michele Pirro, who will thus keep his record intact of competing in at least one MotoGP event in every season since his sole full-time campaign in 2012.
Valentino Rossi gave Andrea Iannone his first MotoGP appearance since 2019 at last week’s Malaysian Grand Prix, where Iannone finished 17th.
At the time, Iannone was uncertain if he would ride in the season finale in Barcelona, which was relocated from Valencia due to the devastating flooding in the area.
“It is always nice to race in this category and then also with Valentino’s colors, whom I thank together with Uccio [Salucci] and Pablo [Nieto].
“I send a big hug to Fabio; he was doing really well, but not being 100 percent physically fit on this engine size is complicated, and next year, he has a great opportunity with the GP25.” CN
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