The Ducati GP15 marked the beginning of a new phase for the Desmosedici, Michele Pirro explained during a conversation at EICMA 2026. Ducati’s test rider spoke from the Galfer stand as part of the Galfer Podcast, looking back at the racing motorcycle’s development and at the work carried out with different Ducati riders.

The GP15 was the first motorcycle developed after Gigi Dall’Igna joined Ducati. Pirro placed it at the start of the path that led to the company’s successes in the following years. He also described a development philosophy that was not built around one rider alone. The goal was a balanced motorcycle capable of working with different riding styles.

What the lever needs to communicate

For Pirro, effective braking is about more than outright stopping power. Consistency in the lever response and, above all, modulation are equally important. Riders now keep the brake applied for longer and continue slowing the motorcycle into corner entry, making a smooth and predictable change in lever force particularly valuable.

That approach is also reflected in Galfer’s involvement with the Ducati V2 Future Champ project, where the company is the technical braking partner. Pirro stressed that a supplier must be able to keep pace with a new project’s rapid development and respond to problems that appear during testing or over the course of the season.

From Moto2 development to a road disc

Galfer is also developing a new road Shark disc based on the evolution of technology used in Moto2. It is intended to be adapted to the higher loads experienced by Superbike motorcycles, while the wider collaboration aims to transfer racing experience into a product for road riders. Pirro regards direct communication at the track and rider feedback as essential to improving products and developing new technical solutions.