Michele Pirro Clinches Seventh CIV Superbike Title, Cementing Status as Italian Racing Legend

Michele Pirro wins his seventh Italian Superbike championship

Ducati MotoGP test rider Michele Pirro has clinched another CIV Italian Superbike championship.

Michele Pirro, who serves as the primary test rider for Ducati Corse's MotoGP and WorldSBK teams, has secured his seventh title in the Italian Superbike Championship (CIV).

Michele Pirro, a rider for the Barni Ducati team which also competes with Danilo Petrucci in the World Superbike Championship and Yari Montella in the World Supersport Championship, clinched the championship last weekend at Mugello.

Pirro achieved his seventh championship in the CIV Superbike category (having previously won in 2015, from 2016 to 2019, and again in 2021 and 2022), marking his 10th overall title in the CIV series. His other victories include championships in the Superstock 1000 in 2007 and 2008, as well as a Supersport title in 2009.

This count places Pirro third in the historical rankings for CIV championships, trailing Tarquinio Provini with 11 titles and Giacomo Agostini with 16, with Agostini having claimed 10 consecutive 500cc titles from 1968 to 1977.

The title follows a contentious conclusion to the 2023 CIV Superbike season at Imola. During the race, Lorenzo Zanetti, who was contending for the title, collided with Pirro at the Variante Bassa, causing Pirro to crash. This incident enabled Zanetti to clinch the championship, leaving Pirro as the runner-up despite his previous six titles.

In a surprising move, Zanetti opted not to compete for his CIV title this year and has shifted his focus to the IDM German Superbike Championship. He began the IDM season on a high note with a victory in the opening race at the Sachsenring. However, since then, his only other podium finish was in Race 2 of the latest round at the Nurburgring. Meanwhile, the dominant force in the championship has been Ilya Mikhalchik, who clinched his fourth IDM Superbike title this season.

Zanetti has been missing during an outstanding season for Pirro. Over the course of five rounds, Pirro, riding bike #51, has secured victory in seven out of ten races. Alessandro Delbianco triumphed in Race 1 of the initial Mugello round when Pirro didn't complete the race, and again in Race 2 of the second Misano round when Pirro came in fourth. Last weekend, Luca Bernardi claimed victory in Race 2 at Mugello, while Pirro secured the championship title.

The concluding round of the 2024 CIV Superbike season is scheduled to be held at Imola from September 27th to 29th.

Photo courtesy of Ducati Corse/X.

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