It's as if the pill isn't working. In any case, in the Petrucci clan we emphasize the disappointment felt when it became inevitable that the Italian had to leave his place at Ducati to the Australian Jack Miller, promoted from the Pramac satellite team. If there is not exactly resentment, there is visibly incomprehension and frustration. The manager of Petrux, Alberto Vergani, never misses an opportunity to hand over a ladle of soup to the grimace...
The 2020 season has not yet started but it has already claimed one victim: Danilo Petrucci. The Italian and winner of his national Grand Prix at Mugello a year ago, is not only out of the factory Ducati, but also, for the moment, towards the exit of MotoGP. On Sky Sport, the manager Alberto Vergani is bitter: “ for the moment we are out of MotoGP, the only chance may be Aprilia. The Superbike is premature, but in this case, in addition to Ducati, there would be other manufacturers who want Danilo. We are in complete anticipation ».
He adds : " the two main market drivers for us are Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone. At 99,9%, Dovizioso will confirm his place. I think it is impossible for him not to find an agreement because it is only an economic question. We are currently out of MotoGP, the only free saddle could perhaps be Aprilia if Iannone should have a negative response to his appeal to the Sports Court. To keep us in the Ducati family offers us the Superbike where Danilo would not want to go because he considers it premature. But there are also other brands that have come forward given the surprising event ».
“Jack Miller may have received an offer from KTM”
Petrux's manager develops this surprise effect. Bad, it goes without saying… “ We are surprised by the timing. I expected Ducati to make the rider choice after a few races maybe in August. It is possible that Miller had an offer from KTM, like last year taking into account that his manager Ajo had a team with them and was dressed head to toe KTM. This situation may have accelerated the process because the pilot will have weighed the opportunity to leave. However, we kinda expected it. With Danilo we have had several alarm bells ringing also in the past, but with the results we have always managed to convince the Ducati staff. This year, we were also aiming for the start of the season which did not take place ».
The Italian finishes: “ we spoke with Aprilia to make ourselves available and that could be a hypothesis. Two years ago, we continued until we arrived at an economical offer. Danilo is esteemed as a person and as a driver. The Superbike, we don't take it into account because it's a rejection after a season where he finished ahead of Miller, if rankings still matter. While recognizing that the second half of the championship was not as brilliant as the first. It seems premature to go to Superbike today after an unfinished course. So of course, if there are no alternatives, perhaps it will become the most appetizing soup in the world ».
