Danilo Petrucci said ‘goodbye’ to MotoGP in 2021, but that did not mean that his racing career was going to stop completely. The Italian rider embarked on a new course in the Dakar Rally with KTM, achieving a stage victory and signing his name in motorsport history.
After the Dakar, Petrucci took his chances at the controls of a Ducati at MotoAmerica 2022, and he was not inconspicuous as he recorded two wins in the season opener in Austin.
This situation gives the Italian pilot a whole blank sheet with which to write his future. And, although the pilot himself has not yet announced his next step in the motor world, there are not a few figures that link him to a speed championship.
During his 10 seasons competing in MotoGP, the Italian rider recorded two wins and a total of 10 podium finishes. However, before entering the premier class, Danilo Petrucci became runner-up in the 2011 Superstock 1000 Championship.
The official Ducati rider in WSBK is currently Álvaro Bautista, who, he says, knows Petrucci’s qualities not only from MotoGP, but also during his pre-season tests in Portimao and Misano.
The Talaverano driver would like the idea of having Danilo Petrucci on the grid. According to him, the 31-year-old “has the potential to be an asset for the championship.” For Petrucci himself, appearing in WSBK means he has a chance to win the world title.
“We all know Danilo [Petrucci], he is a very strong rider. He has won in MotoGP, Dakar and MotoAmerica. He has talent and speed,” Bautista told GPOne.
“If he is capable of winning the MotoAmerica race, which is not easy, I think he deserves to come here, to the WSBK. We did winter tests together,” added the man from Talavera.
