Michele Pirro Clinches Seventh Italian Superbike Crown Amidst Dominant Season

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 championship in the CIV Italian Superbike series.

Last weekend at Mugello, Pirro secured the championship while racing for the Barni Ducati team, which also includes Danilo Petrucci in WorldSBK and Yari Montella in WorldSSP.

Pirro secured his seventh championship in the CIV Superbike category, adding to his previous victories in 2015, from 2016 to 2019, and in 2021 and 2022. This achievement marks his 10th overall title in the CIV series, which also includes winning the Superstock 1000 championships in 2007 and 2008, and a Supersport title in 2009.

According to the count, Pirro ranks third in the history of CIV championships, following Tarquinio Provini with 11 titles and Giacomo Agostini with 16 titles, the latter having secured 10 consecutive 500cc titles from 1968 to 1977.

This title follows the contentious conclusion of the 2023 CIV Superbike season in Imola, where Lorenzo Zanetti, Pirro's competitor for the championship, collided with him in the Variante Bassa. This incident caused Pirro, who has now become a seven-time Superbike Champion, to fall, ultimately giving the title to Zanetti.

Interestingly, Zanetti chose not to compete for his CIV title this year and has been participating in the IDM German Superbike Championship instead. Zanetti started his IDM season strongly, securing a victory in the opening race at the Sachsenring. However, he has only managed to reach the podium once more, finishing in Race 2 during the latest round at the Nurburgring. During this period, most of the victories have been claimed by Ilya Mikhalchik, who secured his fourth IDM Superbike title this season.

Zanetti has been missing during a standout season for Pirro. Throughout five rounds, Pirro, wearing #51, has claimed victory in seven out of ten races. Alessandro Delbianco won when Pirro did not finish Race 1 in the first Mugello round and again when Pirro placed fourth in Race 2 during the second Misano round. Additionally, Luca Bernardi secured a win in Race 2 at Mugello last weekend, while Pirro managed to clinch the championship title.

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

Photo courtesy of Ducati Corse/X.

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