During the MotoGP weekend in Thailand we will see Danilo Petrucci again on the track: the rider from Terni wears Suzuki colors but will cheer for Ducati.
Danilo Petrucci returns to MotoGP one year after the definitive retirement from the World Cup. It was November 14, 2021 when he said goodbye to the paddock and its fans, a departure from the scene that passed on the sly due to the simultaneous resignation of Valentino Rossi that took the full light of the spotlight. The Terni certainly did not stop, quite the contrary. He attended the Dakar Rally winning a stage with the Austrian brand, then he signed with Ducati and flew to the USA for MotoAmerica, finishing 2nd in his first stars and stripes experience.
It is a pity not to have achieved the triumph in the USA, but Petrux was able to assert himself against an opponent as tough as Jake Gagne riding the most competitive Yamaha. Now he enjoys a well-deserved “prize” offered by Livio Suppo, Suzuki team principal, who had already sought him out at Misano to replace Joan Mir. But in September he was still involved in the US Superbike championship and Ducati did not grant the go ahead. This time, with MotoAmerica closed its doors, this little dream can be realized.
Petrucci looks to the “new” Ducati
On Monday morning he left Atlanta and set off for Thailand, where he arrived after a long flight and finding a 12-hour time zone gap. It is not yet certain whether he will repeat the experience of the Overseas, a lot will depend on the commitment of the Emilian brand. For him there are no interesting glimpses in the WorldSBKMichael Rinaldi has renewed and Alvaro Bautista seems irreplaceable, at least until the end of the 2023 season. Next year Danilo Petrucci could return to America, “but a lot depends on Ducati’s commitment“.
For now, it is better to enjoy this weekend at Buriram, to follow the great stage of the MotoGP and who knows that something interesting will not be born for the future. The only goal is to have fun, but he will still try to bring home a good result, even if the comparison with today’s riders will be complicated after so many months of stoppage. He wears Suzuki colors, but Petrucci will cheer for Bagnaia: “He proved to be in great shape and has a very fast bike. And she can rely on data from seven other brand mates to find the best tuning – explains Danilo Petrucci to ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ -, while Quartararo is alone to fight“.
From next season Bagnaia and Bastianini will share the same box as the official team. Many come to mind the couple Dovizioso-Petrucci of the recent past … “I was the atypical one, chosen as Andrea’s squire to help him win the World Cup… Now they have chosen two strikers. I only regret that when I was at the top I had to compare myself with the best Honda and the best Marquez ever, because in 2019 Marc was only first or second. By mid-season the World Cup was already decided“.
