Image: Supplied.

Ducati Team has called in factory test rider Michele Pirro for the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, replacing Jorge Lorenzo as he continues to recover from injury.

Lorenzo attempted to ride on Friday, but was ruled out by Saturday morning because of the intense pain experienced in his left wrist.

It will be a fifth row start for Pirro, who was fourth at the end of Q1 and 14th overall in qualifying. Despite very little time available, he did a couple of good free practice sessions, finishing FP4 in 12th.

However, the experienced Italian was unable to get through Q1 held on a wet track later during the afternoon. Pirro finished this session in fourth place and as a result will start tomorrow’s race from the fifth row.

“I’m satisfied with my day and happy to be able to return to the track here at Sepang, even though I could only lap today,” Pirro said post-qualifying. “It’s a pity because in Q1 I made a small mistake when I was improving my time.

“We fitted steel brake discs because I’d never used the carbon ones in the rain and I was improving my lap time, but I went into turn nine too deep and missed out on going through to Q2 by just a few tenths. In any case now we will work to be as ready as possible and tomorrow we’ll try and make up some positions in the race.”

Lorenzo will now aim to return for Valencia’s final round on 18 November, his final appearance for Ducati prior to switching to partner Marc Marquez at Repsol Honda in the high-profile post-season tests at the Spanish circuit.