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Michele Pirro couldn’t miss out on the presentation of the Ducati MotoE in the evocative setting of Casa Maria Luigia in Modena. He was the first to bring Ducati’s electric bike to the track last December, just before getting married to Paola.
We exchanged a few words with the test rider from Puglia as he explained the latest addition to the family.
"The Moto E is like a fighter, a jet,” he said. "This bike represents a new era, where Ducati wants to be at the forefront in the world of racing. I took it to the track for the first time in December 2020. At the beginning, I had some preconceived ideas, but then I changed my mind, since they know how to build bikes of a certain level at Borgo Panigale "
There were still many obstacles to overcome in development.
"The most important thing is to be able to build a motorcycle with a delivery that’s similar to a motorcycle with internal combustion, such as the Desmosedici or V4. Not having a gearbox, you have everything in the handle. When braking, you feel the inertia of the weight, but the reactions are those of a classic bike."
The goal is to get closer to the SuperSport in terms of performance.
"The starting point is that, and I think it's an incredible start, considering, among other things, the evolution of the MotoGP. I think having an electric bike of this caliber is fantastic, since the SuperSport is a great reference .”
At the moment, the recorded times remain top secret, even if Michele smiles slyly.
“We can’t talk about the times. We’re at a good level, but we could do much more.”
Meanwhile, it’ll be time for new challenges in three weeks because the Race of Champions will be held at the WDW, with the SBK and MotoGP Ducati riders involved.
“Compared to a few years ago, I’m no longer starting with the underdogs. Now, the younger riders are the favored, but watch out for old-timers like me and Bautista. We could be the surprises of the day, and if Bayliss were there too… ."
