Mass is said and the negotiations finished. But Ducati had to put a little more on the table to convince Danilo Petrucci of his love for Borgo Panigale. Because on the side of Noale, which is the stronghold of Aprilia, the means had been taken to make Petrux doubt the virtues of the heart alone. Still, here is the Pramac rider assured of an official motorcycle in 2018, with a Ducati contract for one year… Which means the possibility of claiming a red tunic in 2019.
So many perspectives which weighed on the choice of the 26-year-old Italian. The latter had seen his rating rise in recent weeks: two podiums and three first rows in four Grands Prix, that obviously attracts attention. And in particular from Aprilia, looking for a recut driver, instead of a Sam Lowes certainly to be trained, but desperately messy.
Petrucci had first promised to wait until the summer holidays to make a decision. But the manufacturers insisted that it was finished at the Sachsenring: “ Ducati and Aprilia wanted to go on a quiet vacation. They told me that it was in Germany that I had to decide on my future ».
« What really worked was the fact of changing teams at this time. I really like Pramac and Ducati just as much. Imagine if I told them Ok I'm going to Aprila's… It wouldn't be good for the second half of the season, including mentally speaking. Pramac made most of my career so I wanted to stay with them. That said, Aprilia made me a really attractive offer and I thank them for it. But I prefer to stay with a really competitive machine in a team that is just as competitive ».
Not sure that this conclusion will bring joy to the servants of the RS-GP... the fact remains that, in both cases, Pramac and Aprilia, two Englishmen are also in the hot seat: Scott Redding who could well lose his GP16 and Sam Lowes who is still not certain of anything, except that we are actively looking for his replacement...
