Gresini Ducati MotoGP stand-in Michele Pirro has become the first rider to be penalised in 2026, after impeding team-mate Alex Marquez in Thai Grand Prix practice.<\/p>\n
Gresini<\/a> has had to call on the services of long-time Ducati MotoGP test rider Michele Pirro for the 2026 season-opener at Buriram due to injury for Fermin Aldeguer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s top rookie missed the entirety of the pre-season and is not expected to return to action until round two in Brazil at the earliest, after he fractured his femur in a winter training incident.<\/p>\n Pirro has been deputising on the Gresini-run GP25 Ducati since last weekend\u2019s Buriram test.<\/p>\n The Italian has earned the unenviable accolade of becoming the first rider to be penalised this season, following an incident with team-mate Alex Marquez during Practice.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Marquez was forced to abandon a flying lap when he came across Pirro riding slowly on the racing line.<\/p>\n The FIM MotoGP stewards immediately placed the incident under investigation, with impeding generally copping a punishment.<\/p>\n Though the incident ultimately didn\u2019t stop Alex Marquez from advancing through to Q2 come the chequered flag in Practice<\/a>, the stewards still took an unfavourable view on Pirro\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n As such, he has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for this weekend\u2019s Thai Grand Prix.<\/p>\n An excerpt from the stewards\u2019 document read: \u201cFollowing the penalty protocol issued to teams, this action was deemed to be an incident of type MGP-SR4: Slow riding on line during the last 20 minutes of Practice – disrupting another rider and directly affecting progression into Q2.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n