After convincing 2017 and 2018 seasons with Ducati Pramac, signing with Ducati Team should free Danilo Petrucci. The Italian has been present in the premier category since 2012 and for the first time, he would have the opportunity to claim victories regularly. The bike being stronger than ever, the title was also potentially possible.
Two seasons later, Petrucci signed with KTM Tech3 for the 2021 season. If the French team is far from ridiculous, particularly thanks to Miguel Oliveira and his Spielberg exploit, the change of manufacturer does not seem optimal for his career. But isn’t this a great opportunity to get back on track? How did the friendly but discreet Italian arrive at this crucial stage in his career? Can he succeed at Tech3 ? So many questions that we will try to answer.
Petrucci can boast of having deserved this official Ducati handlebar. The latter scoured the CRT teams at the start of the decade and experienced the worst conditions for development. He arrived in MotoGP with limited international background and could only boast a second place in the 1000 FIM Superstock 2011 Cup championship, beaten by Davide Giugliano overall.
Photo: Michelin Motorsport
An opportunity with the Came Iodaracing Suter team presents itself and Danilo takes the plunge. The team competes among the Claiming Rule Teams, a category of less powerful motorcycles created to fill the grid. Obviously, the results are not brilliant.
At the end of the 2013 season, he will only have scored an eighth place ceiling after two seasons with his team. A transfer sends him to ART. Disaster. He was in twentieth place overall at the end of the season; The fault was an injury preventing him from competing in four races. Only four drivers entered for the year finished behind him: Colin Edwards, Broc Parkes, Michael Laverty and Mike Di Meglio.
At this point many would have given up. Not Danilo Petrucci. The latter takes it upon himself and redoubles his efforts to hope, one day, to reach the summits. Ducati Pramac hired him in 2015 and literally saved his career.
Instantly, he understood the machine, which was still capricious at that time. He displayed impressive consistency at the start and even finished second at Silverstone, unleashed. The 2016 season was a break in his career due to a new injury. Once again, he showed unwavering determination and came back stronger in 2017. At Pramac, he crossed swords with Scott Redding then Jack Miller but always manages to come out on top.
Ducati rewards him with an official handlebar to replace Jorge Lorenzo for the year 2019. Realize the journey endured for so many years. Between injuries and struggles, he made a dream come true by signing for such a competitive team.
“Petrux” is in trouble. Here, at the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix. Photo: Michelin Motorsport.
Everything started for the best: A promising first podium at Le Mans, followed by a magnificent victory at Mugello in front of his home crowd. An intense moment for a discreet man, generous on the track and always smiling. Yes but there you go. Danilo struggled enormously at the end of the 2019 season and was unable to remobilize for 2020. At the time of writing, he was only in 14th place in the general ranking.
Tech3 is used to these difficult cases, to men with big hearts on whom no one would have dared to bet. These discreet and tough pilots are no strangers to Hervé Poncharal, who appears to be the perfect leader to manage a talented but – undoubtedly – unmotivated driver.
Danilo Petrucci, at 29 years old, is far from finished. Fighting at the back of the grid? He knows. If they are well managed and stick to the team's philosophy, drivers of this type can create a surprise and take podiums with experience, as outsiders.
Adapting to a new machine after six seasons at Ducati won't be easy, that's for sure, but won't be any more difficult than mastering an Ioda – Suter.
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
