MotoGP - Japanese Grand Prix - Mobility Resort Motegi, Motegi, Japan - October 1, 2023 Ducati Lenovo Team's Michele Pirro in action during the MotoGP REUTERS/Issei Kato
(Reuters) -Ducati's test rider Michele Pirro will replace injured MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez at the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island next week, the team announced on Friday.
Marquez, who clinched his seventh MotoGP crown at the Japanese Grand Prix last month, will miss the next two rounds after suffering a fracture and ligament injury to his right shoulder in a crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix last weekend.
"Following the injury that has forced Marc Marquez to miss the next two round of the 2025 MotoGP season, Ducati Lenovo Team confirms that Michele Pirro will replace him at the Aussie appointment," Ducati said in a statement.
Ducati did not say if Pirro would also race at the Malaysian Grand Prix later this month. The 39-year-old last raced in MotoGP in the 2024 season's final round for the VR46 Racing team.
Marquez is expected to return for the final two races of the season in Portugal and Valencia next month.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru;Editing by Christian Radnedge)
