Andrea Iannone is set to return to MotoGP, reports suggest that he will replace Michele Piron as Ducati test rider.
Pyro served as Ducati He has been a challenger driver since 2013 and key to the team’s success, collecting data and mileage on Desmosedici and providing valuable feedback.
The Italian has shown a number of signs and replacement feats over the years – the latest coming when he replaced Gresini at the Thai Grand Prix. The injured Fermin Aldeguer. Now turning 40 this year, Pirro seems to be looking to move on.
Predict the order of Ducati riders in the 2026 MotoGP rankings
Pirro has been linked with a replacement for David Tardozzi. When it was announced that the current boss was ready to resign as the head of the Ducati team. The challenge rider has plenty of work to do away from the track, and it looks like he’s ready to hang up his gloves.
Superbike star of the world Niccolò Bulega In the year In 2026 he is working with Piro as a test and reserve rider, in 2027 the 850 cc. It helps to build a bike. Now Ducati are set to add WSBK rider Iannone to the roster.
Andrea Iannone is set to replace Michel Pirone as Ducati test rider.
Report from Engine footprint Note that it is ‘news from the paddock’ about Piro’s future with Ducati at the Thai GP. The Italian is ‘at the end’ of his tenure and looks set to step in for Iannone.
The former MotoGP rider, who races in WSBK for the Kainam Racing Team on a Ducati Pangale V4R, has ‘reached an agreement’ with the Borgo Pangale outfit and will replace Piro, possibly as early as this year.
Is Andrea Iannone the right man to replace Michel Piro at Ducati?
Iannone is set to join the Harley-Davidson Baggers World Cup. In the year In 2026, he will support the MotoGP championship, and now it seems that they are back at Ducati helping their testing program.
With this move, Iannone could be available for some MotoGP races as a wild card or full-time driver if injured. MotoGP is pushing for teams to have three riders by 2027.And Iannone could be the third name on the list.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Ducati test rider Michel Pirro, from age to stats
Andrea Iannone won his only MotoGP race with Ducati
Joining MotoGP with Pramac in 2013, Iannone remained with the Tuscany-based team until his move to the factory Ducati team in 2015.
The following year, the 36-year-old took victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, his first and only win in the premier class.
Iannone moved to Suzuki in 2017, but struggled to get performances in two seasons with the Japanese outfit. In the year He signed with Aprilia in 2019, but finished 16th in the standings with 43 points and retired from MotoGP full-time at the end of the season.
In the year Back in 2024 with the VR46 at the Malaysian GP, ​​Fabio Di Giannantonio sat out the final two rounds to undergo surgery on his left shoulder.
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