Ducati test rider Michele Pirro has revealed newly-retired MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi accepted his request to try the latest Desmosedici machine.
Pirro broke the news in a social media post congratulating Rossi, after the Italian rode his final MotoGP race at Valencia on Sunday:
“Sharing the track with the motorcycle GOAT was a great privilege. I asked him to do a few laps on today’s Ducati DesmosediciGP, and he will do it, because when I got to Ducati he was still there, and I know what he’s been through …”
Rossi famously struggled at Ducati in 2011 and 2012 before returning to Yamaha and Pirro wants The Doctor to experience the technical progress made in recent seasons, under the leadership of Gigi Dall’Igna.
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With Rossi’s own VR46 team using Desmosedicis for its debut MotoGP campaign in 2022, the Italian would also be able to better advise brother Luca Marini and rookie Marco Bezzecchi if he has some first-hand knowledge of the bike.
Ducati won a total of seven races this year (more than any other manufacturer) – split between Francesco Bagnaia (4), Jack Miller (2) and Jorge Martin (1).
Although beaten by Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha to the riders’ title, the factory claimed both the teams’ and constructors’ world championships.
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Pirro’s message can be seen below: