The atmosphere was somewhat depressed in the KTM family during a Styrian Grand Prix where the brand panickedly announced the officialization of Raul Fernandez in MotoGP at Tech3. A real disaster in terms of communication because Hervé Poncharal was taken by surprise when the news was broadcast. Petrucci and Lecuona were riding their RC16 doing their FP4. The Austrians understood the harm done and the damage caused so well that they want to make up for it. And here’s how…
So thatHervé Poncharal struggled to find words while swallowing his anger after being dumped by his partner KTM in the media lions' den on the announcement without preliminary on Raul fernandez, Danilo Petrucci regretted being treated like nothing: “ I am surprised, disappointed and sorry, not surprised by the decision but by certain people and their behavior. Ils nous ont “virés” alors qu’on portait encore la combinaison » avait alors lâché le double vainqueur en MotoGP avec Ducati.
Today, and before Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, the boss of KTM Stefan pierer is looking for a new field of activity for Danilo Petrucci. " I made him an offer for the Dakar rally in 2022 ", Explain Pierre. " He would be marked Tech3 on his motorcycle ". Enough to compensate the two parties mistreated in Styria.
« Danilo is an incredibly nice guy ", said Pierre in an interview with speedweek. " That's why we want to keep it. He received an offer from me on Saturday evening. He is supposed to drive the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia for us in 2022. At first, he didn't believe me! His bike would have had Tech3 on it.. Participating in the Dakar has always been his wish. He always told us that. With a project like this we have a number of opportunities with it in terms of marketing and sales in Italy. It would be a great marketing story. We won't leave Danilo behind ».
KTM offers the Dakar onlyt
« I have a great passion for off-road sports, for enduro and motocross, which constitute an important part of my training program. For several years I always bought motorcycles in Austria – KTM and Husqvarna “, Petrucci has already admitted. Petrux currently owns five Austrian off-road machines (KTM and Husqvarna). In his Ducati days, however, he rode these bikes in a red design.
Less than Petrucci no longer has a future in MotoGP for KTM…” No, we have Dani Pedrosa and Mika Kallio scheduled again for 2022. Danilo is unlucky, because at 184 cm he is too tall for today's MotoGP races ". And he ends: “ we will tell our off-road manager Robert Jonas that we still need a fourth Dakar driver for our deal with Red Bull ". Let's hope that said Jonas doesn't fall from the clouds... That being said, the rumor wanting a Petrucci returning to Ducati but in WSBK persists…
