ROME: Ducati announced on Friday that their Italian test rider Michele Pirro will replace injured newly-crowned world champion Marc Marquez at this month’s Australian MotoGP.
Marquez, who sealed his seventh top flight title in Japan last month only to come crashing down to earth last time out in Indonesia, will miss Australia and Malaysia.
The Spaniard suffered a fracture and ligament injury to his right shoulder in a high speed crash in Lombok.
“Following Marc Marquez’s injury, which will see him miss the next two rounds of the MotoGP Championship, the Ducati team announces that Michele Pirro will replace him for the Australian round at Phillip Island,” the Italian team announced.
Pirro, 39, will be having his 70th MotoGP start in the Oct 17-19 round in Australia.
Ducati have not specified who will replace Marquez in Malaysia.