Overview
- The factory team confirmed Pirro will ride the Desmosedici at Phillip Island on October 17–19 alongside Francesco Bagnaia.
- Marquez was diagnosed in Madrid with a fracture at the base of the coracoid process and a right‑shoulder ligament injury after a first‑lap collision with Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia.
- He is ruled out of both the Australian and Malaysian rounds and is following a conservative plan of rest and immobilisation with weekly assessments.
- Pirro’s appearance will be his 70th premier‑class start on a Ducati and his first MotoGP race since the 2024 Barcelona finale.
- Ducati has not named a Sepang replacement, with concession rules prohibiting wildcards and limiting the team to official stand‑ins.