Michele Pirro Clinches Seventh Italian Superbike Title in Dominant Season for Ducati

Michele Pirro clinches his seventh Italian Superbike championship

Ducati MotoGP test rider Michele Pirro has won the CIV Italian Superbike title once again.

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.

Pirro, who competes for the Barni Ducati team—which also includes Danilo Petrucci in the World Superbike Championship and Yari Montella in the World Supersport Championship—secured the championship last weekend at Mugello.

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 triumph marks his tenth overall title in the CIV series, which includes his Superstock 1000 wins in 2007 and 2008, as well as a Supersport title in 2009.

Michele Pirro's total places him third in the historical rankings for CIV championships. He trails behind Tarquinio Provini, who has 11 titles, and Giacomo Agostini, who leads with 16 titles, including an impressive streak of 10 consecutive 500cc championships from 1968 to 1977.

This title follows a contentious conclusion to the 2023 CIV Superbike season at Imola, where Lorenzo Zanetti, Pirro's competitor for the championship, collided with him at the Variante Bassa. This collision caused Pirro, who is now a seven-time Superbike Champion, to fall, thus granting the title to Zanetti.

Zanetti, by the way, chose not to defend his CIV championship this year. Instead, he has been competing in the IDM German Superbike Championship. Zanetti began his IDM season with a victory in the opening race at the Sachsenring, but his only other podium finish was in Race 2 at the latest round held at the Nurburgring. Meanwhile, most of the wins have been claimed by Ilya Mikhalchik, who has secured his fourth IDM Superbike title this year.

Zanetti has been absent during what has been an outstanding season for Pirro. After five rounds, Pirro, sporting the number 51, has secured victory in seven out of ten races. Alessandro Delbianco emerged victorious in Race 1 during the initial Mugello round when Pirro did not complete the race, and again in Race 2 at the second Misano round when Pirro finished fourth. Luca Bernardi claimed victory in Race 2 at Mugello last weekend while Pirro sealed the championship title.

The concluding race of the 2024 CIV Superbike season is scheduled for September 27–29 at Imola.

Photo courtesy of Ducati Corse/X.

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