Ducati has not confirmed a change to its MotoGP test structure for 2027, but Michele Pirro has made clear that he will remain personally involved in development. In his view, continuity and stability matter especially in a season expected to bring major changes.

The possibility of Maverick Viñales joining the manufacturer has entered the discussion. The ten-time MotoGP race winner lost his place on the 2027 grid after talks with KTM over a new Tech3 agreement ended earlier this year. His next move remains open, but a Ducati test-rider deal has not been confirmed.

Testing is more than a fallback

Pirro spoke respectfully about Viñales’ ability, while questioning what contribution he could make in a role without the opportunity to race. He described test riding as a fundamentally different job, demanding sustained commitment to development and a willingness to work for the team’s needs rather than concentrating solely on the rider’s own performance.

Ducati’s current test-rider line-up consists of Pirro and Nicolò Bulega. Bulega won this year’s World Superbike title, but will race for VR46 in 2027. Pirro is 40 and does not have the recent racing experience found in some other manufacturers’ test line-ups, yet he considers continuity in his own role important to the development process.

Pirro’s position is that Ducati should prioritise stability instead of spending energy unnecessarily. Although Bulega is moving into a racing role, Pirro does not regard hiring another test rider as a current priority or focus. Viñales therefore remains a possible 2027 scenario, not an announced member of Ducati’s test team.