Marc Marquez’s shoulder injury has left Ducati searching for a replacement rider for the upcoming MotoGP rounds, raising questions about the Marc Marquez Ducati replacement for the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix. The team faces a choice between extending Michele Pirro’s impressive run of appearances or considering options from the World Superbike (WorldSBK) championship.
Ducati’s ‘A’ concession status means wild-card entries are no longer available, placing factory test rider Michele Pirro’s streak of at least one MotoGP start each year since 2012 at risk. Over the last decade, Pirro made 50 wild-card and substitute appearances, primarily supporting Ducati between 2013 and 2023. After a period away, he returned for the final race last season, replacing Fabio di Giannantonio at Barcelona. With Marquez confirmed to miss the Australian Grand Prix from October 17–19 and the Malaysian round from October 24–26, Pirro remains the primary candidate to fill in alongside Francesco Bagnaia.
The MotoGP regulations specify:
Teams must make every reasonable effort to provide a qualified substitute rider to fulfil their entry obligations within 10 days of withdrawal.
In this context, Ducati must promptly arrange an experienced substitute rider to satisfy entry requirements. Since Ducati has already secured the riders’, teams’, and constructors’ championships this season, they face no immediate pressure to prioritize race results; instead, the focus may shift toward collecting valuable data for the 2026 season.
However, the rules also restrict engine testing opportunities when a substitute rider is involved:
will be deemed to be the original rider [Marquez] for purposes of engine allocation,
which means Ducati’s testing resources remain limited during Marquez’s absence.
Exploring World Superbike Riders for the Malaysian Race
The Australian Grand Prix coincides with the World Superbike finale, where Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega is engaged in a tight championship battle with Toprak Razgatlioglu. This scheduling overlap opens the door for Ducati to consider one of its WorldSBK riders for the Malaysian round at Sepang.
Ducati has previously utilized different replacements within a single season, such as last year when Andrea Iannone raced at Sepang before Pirro took over at Barcelona. Iannone’s previous performance at Sepang demonstrated his readiness to step in without prior testing, having delivered a solid effort while riding for the factory team where he achieved Ducati’s first win under Gigi Dall’Igna’s leadership in 2015.
Alongside Iannone, Nicolo Bulega remains another option. His existing contract with Ducati includes MotoGP testing alongside Pirro in 2026, positioning him as a capable candidate. Nevertheless, the Italian team might hesitate to rush Bulega’s MotoGP debut given recent challenges faced by wild-card rider Alvaro Bautista at the 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Bautista, a former MotoGP rider, is also available and brings valuable experience to assist Ducati in addressing the difficulties faced by their lead rider, Francesco Bagnaia. In contrast, Danilo Petrucci’s upcoming move to BMW’s factory team in 2026 likely rules him out as a potential stand-in despite his prior MotoGP successes.
Marquez’s Injury Status and Expected Return
Marc Marquez, recently crowned a seven-time MotoGP champion, suffered a fracture at the base of the coracoid process along with a ligament injury in his right shoulder after a collision with Marco Bezzecchi during the Indonesian Grand Prix. His medical team has opted for a conservative treatment plan focused on rest and immobilization rather than surgery.
My goal is to be back before the end of the season, but without rushing things beyond the doctors’ recommendations,
Marquez stated regarding his recovery timeline.
The rest of the MotoGP calendar includes the final rounds at Portimao and Valencia after Sepang. Marquez’s cautious approach aims to ensure a full recovery without jeopardizing longer-term performance.
Implications of the Replacement Decision
Ducati’s decision on a replacement rider for Marquez will impact the team’s strategy across the remaining rounds. With the triple crown already secured, the focus can shift to development and adaptation rather than immediate race results. Choosing an experienced test rider like Michele Pirro could maximize data collection for future seasons while calling upon WorldSBK talent might offer fresh insights but also risks regarding adaptation and readiness.
The potential involvement of riders like Andrea Iannone and Nicolo Bulega highlights Ducati’s depth across different racing platforms. Meanwhile, Alvaro Bautista’s MotoGP experience could support Ducati in understanding Francesco Bagnaia’s recent struggles. The unfolding situation at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix will test Ducati’s adaptability and planning as it navigates the final stretch of this MotoGP season.
