The new season is almost there and Michele Pirro tested a Ducati Panigale V4 S at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve recently. The two days of testing were crucial for him to regain track rhythm and assess his physical condition after injuring his ankle in a CIV (Italian Speed Championship) race last year.
Quoted by GPOne.com, Ducati’s test rider confirmed that he is almost fully recovered and didn’t need painkillers to ride: ‘These two days of testing were very important for me. For the first time since I injured my ankle at the end of the CIV season in Imola, I rode without taking painkillers! I return home from Portimão with good feelings, although at the end of the day, my foot tended to swell anyway. But a fundamental aspect was going back to using the boot I wore before Imola. A sign that the swelling has practically disappeared’.
Pirro’s next commitment is at Sepang during the official MotoGP tests in early February, and he assures that he will face them in good physical and mental condition: ‘I realized in Portimão that my physical condition is returning to excellent levels. These tests have proven to be a cure, not only for my body but also for my spirit, as I shared the track with other riders I know well and with various friends, spending hours without worry and relaxing. All the winning ingredients to start the season in the best possible way’.