The atmopshere of home evidently brings good luck to Danilo Petrucci given that, after his triumph at Mugello in 2019, when he raced in the MotoGP, he returned to tread the first step of the podium in an unprecedented SBK event on the Cremona circuit. Good at taking advantage of a rocket-fast start, the rider from Terni soon placed himself behind poleman Bulega, reaching a win as coveted as it was unhoped for, due to the insidiousness of the factory Ducati bikes as his main rival.
"Starting sixth, I didn't expect to get to the front so quickly. And, instead, I got off to a good start and, on braking at turn eleven, I was making up ground. I was faster in the slipstreams of the other riders but, when I took the lead, I got a warning from the front, and I knew it was better to stay calm and go of my pace. I honestly didn't expect to create such a gap with Nicolò so, at that point, I just tried to manage the tires as much as possible," he analyzed the situation, excited about the result.
What also made this victory especially heartfelt was the suspense effect. "When they stopped the race, I started to do some calculations. I wasn't sure of the outcome until the end of the lap. I honestly didn't imagine this finish. Now I've joined that small group of riders who've won in the MotoGP and the SBK," he added, gloatingly.
A special thought for those who, in some way, contributed to this moment was inevitable. "2023 was a tough year that taught me to assess what I have and not what I lack. I used to believe that, if I was short and light, I'd win more. But, after the acciden,t I changed my mind. I'm happy, because I'm still alive, so my mind went to mom, dad, and my brother. Today, I'm the happiest rider on the face of the earth, and it's unbelievable when I think about last year and this year's fall, as already mentioned. I think this victory is the best gift life could give me. In May, I thought everything was over but, instead, I'm happy and free."
Some regrets remain. "After four, five laps, I was alone, and my pace was the best. I would've liked to win an entire race, but that's okay. I was there in Portimão, but Toprak got the better of me, and the same happened in Magny Cours with Bulega. So, it's nice to have beaten a talent like that. I feel like sixty kilos instead of eighty. Too bad I couldn't celebrate."
Finally, an eye towards the future: "I've achieved a lot. Now I'm aiming for the title, maybe as early as 2025," he said jokingly.