Danilo Petrucci is carrying out all the necessary preparation to run his first Dakar next January. Parallel to the last MotoGP races, he is taking theoretical and practical courses to understand how this new discipline works and this week he will do the first test in the desert.
However, in recent days a new option has emerged. Following Loris Baz’s decision to give up his MotoAmerica spot in favor of returning to WorldSBK on Bonovo’s BMW, the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team would be interested in Petrucci’s services, according to our colleagues at GPone.com .
When asked about that matter in Misano, the Italian did not rule out the opportunity, although he said he had little information at the moment. “I have found out, it is an idea that is there. I like both things a lot from a human point of view. I think it is a very, very beautiful experience from a human point of view, whether it is [competing] in the Dakar or going to live in another country. “, he replied.
Petrucci prepares to leave the grand prix at the age of 31 last Sunday. He had initially ruled out going back to series-derived bikes, having raced for just over four years in the Superstock 600 and 1000. However, the prospect of being at the center of a strong program in the American championship seems to have given him pause.
“First I would like to talk to KTM , because we have a project. I am going to do some tests and we have a long-term project. One surely excludes the other, so I have to study that. KTM gave me a great opportunity last year and now He has given me another to run the Dakar, so we’ll see,” he said. “From what I understand, and what little I know, there is official support in both cases, so you can’t be red in front and orange in back or vice versa,” he laughed.
Test in Dubai before Portimão
As it is, Petrucci continues with the raid program with KTM, which includes tests in the desert of Dubai this week to familiarize himself with the 450 Rally and navigation in a race-like environment. Before heading to Misano for the Emilia Romagna GP, he spent three days in Spain, taking lessons from KTM team manager Jordi Viladoms .
“We had a great program on navigation and all the equipment on the bike,” he explained. “One day was dedicated just to theory, just to understand all the rules, how this race works and especially the bike and all the equipment that we have, because there are a lot of things to know and rules to follow. Then the last two days We shot. It was a normal navigation in the forest, in a European environment, with trees and small paths. And I didn’t have the rally bike, which I will test before Portimão for the first real test.”
Viladoms has already begun to share his experience of 10 participations in the Dakar and a second position in the 2014 edition with Petrucci. “We have the opportunity to navigate and when we don’t understand something, we stop, talk and make comparisons. I asked a lot of questions, we had three very good days and that was very important. He was surprised by my speed,” said Petrux .
“The fact is that I had already tried this type of navigation last year [at a rally raid in Sardinia], it was very similar, so I wasn’t starting from scratch. Instead, [this] week I will start from scratch because I have never been on the desert, and even less so with a motorcycle”, stressed
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