After the Superstock, the MotoGP, the Dakar and the MotoAmerica, Danilo Petrucci will add a new string to his bow in this 2023 season by facing the big names of WSBK for the first time. He nevertheless remains a rookie just as special as the double Supersport World Champion of the last two years, Dominique Aegerter, or even Remy Gardner, Moto2 World Champion in 2021 who is settling in after a complicated year to say the least in MotoGP. But these beautiful people remain beginners in World Superbike. For Petrux, he will have the privilege of riding the world champion motorcycle with Alvaro Bautista, the Panigale V4R with factory support. Before packing his bags for Australia and his route to Phillip Island which will open hostilities, he takes stock…
One point awarded to motorionline in which he looks back on these last two seasons where he was on the starting grid of MotoGP, MotoAmerica, but also the grueling stages of the Dakar. And each time, he stood out with top-notch performances. On the legendary Rally, he explains how he approached it at the time, and the unexpected things that this experience brought him: “ after two very difficult years in MotoGP I really couldn't take it anymore and I went to the Dakar like the elephants, either to die far from the herd…And instead, it was probably the best thing I did in my life, because I felt good in that environment, with that bike, I felt really free and things happened to me that I didn't even think I could do ».
He explains his weariness of the Grands Prix thus: “ in MotoGP you really work to win every thousandth and you have to be really perfect, but not only in racing. You must be perfect from January 1 to November 30, you only have one month off in December. But for the rest you are really at the limit all year round and maybe if you get results and you are in front you do it with a spirit of sacrifice. But when you run knowing that you will be 17th everything becomes very heavy."
Danilo Petrucci: “in Jerez by doing nothing we went fast while in Portimao by doing everything we went slowly"
2023 will therefore be placed under the seal of WSBK. Danilo Petrucci will fly away to join the route of Phillip Island in Australia where he will do the last off-season tests of 20 at 21 February before launching into the fray of 24 to 26 that follow. Before that, he discovered his Ducati Panigale V4R of the Barni team supported by the factory, with tests in Jerez and Portimao. Two meetings which gave him two radically opposite verdicts…
Petrux comments: “ it was strange. In Jerez, by doing nothing, we went quickly, while in Portimao, by doing everything, we went slowly. So I probably have something left to figure out. to know how to use the motorcycle and how to perform certain maneuvers… " He adds : " we have the maximum support from Ducati and they care a lot ».
Then he ends with what he expects from this first meeting with the speed discipline reserved for motorcycles derived from the series: “ at the moment I have no expectations, mainly because other than Baz, Redding and Bautista, I didn't race with any other of my opponents. I don't know their level and I'm very curious. I know they are going strong because many Moto2 and MotoGP riders have arrived. I would like to get on the podium as soon as possible. The main rival is me putting pressure on myself, I have to go and stay calm ».
