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Danilo Petrucci doesn't stand around idle for one moment! Back from China, the rider from Terni made a stop at EICMA. We caught up with him at the Airoh booth, for a chat in which Petrux talked not only about the new products brought to Milan by the helmet manufacturer. But also about his roller-coaster 2024 season, his goals for next year, and the possibility of returning to the Dakar in January to compete on four wheels.
"This year I raced with the FIM-homologated Airoh GP 800, and I must say that for my size and how much I sweat, I was a good tester," he said, "I also raced on it in the wet, even using it last Saturday in Shanghai in a typhoon and it works! As for communication systems, in my opinion they are also very important in off-road use, with friends and enduro bikes."
You also raced in Shanghai with Ducati Riding Experiences, you had fun this year!
"I enjoy riding motorcycles. Even if I have to fly so many hours, when there's a chance to do it, especially on a beautiful track like Shanghai, with a Ducati, it's hard to say no."
Were you left a little disappointed about finishing fifth in the championship, after being in the fight for third place?
"I had gotten very close to Bautista after Cremona. He had been very strong in Aragon and I had already lost contact a little bit there, and then in Estoril I crashed in Race 1. The last two were difficult, however, we are working to solve those limits that did not allow us to always fight for the podium."
The hat-trick of wins in Cremona was a bit of an iconic image of this year.
"Yes, it was the culmination of the races at Magny-Cours, where we had always been on the podium, and at Portimao, where we fought it out with Toprak in Race 1 and Superpole Race. That was a very fast part of the season, we fought to stay in front in a World Championship, doing over 60/70 laps in the lead, and that's important."
Perhaps it also went beyond what was expected.
"Yes. One always thinks to do the best, but it's complicated to always improve, and it will be important to be able to do that again next year. At the time of my injury, though, there was definitely a lot of doubt about the condition in which I would return."
There is also a good message of life in everything you have done this year.
"It was very nice to see so much affection from people. I didn't expect to come back at Misano, Italy, and then win in Cremona. It was really exciting, especially after a serious injury. I didn't know how I was going to get back on the bike because of the fractures in my collarbone and shoulder blade. We worked a lot, especially with my head, and I tried to take everything good that I had, because I had a tough time."
Apart from the win, one of your goals for this year was to aim for Bautista's factory bike. Are you left with any regrets?
"Maybe there is still time. More than anything, to get on Alvaro's bike I would have had to go faster than him. Whereas when it came to making that choice, it was Bautista who was going faster. Then there were some races where I went faster, but I think it was right on Ducati's part to keep a rider who has allowed them to win in recent years and Alvaro's desire was to continue. If I want that bike I will have to at least get ahead of him next year. It will be difficult to reconfirm at these levels, but the goal will be to do a little better."
Is the ambition to get that bike in 2026?
"No, the ambition is to always fight for it to be in the top three. This year I was close to finishing in the top three and then I finished fifth. I was not up to it in the last two races, not fast enough. To be able to do that would already be a big improvement. Then, to talk at the end of the season is very difficult: Toprak and Bulega went really fast this year."
How did you see Iannone in Sepang?
"As usual, very fast. Those who expected him to be able to do more don't understand so much about motorcycles, because it's like taking over a multinational company without knowing any employees: it's impossible to do. I have done it twice. Once with the Suzuki, and I don't know how many years I hadn't ridden a bike with an inline four-cylinder, and then last year when I got on Bastianini's bike. I was pretty fast and got into the points, but to think I could do better than the factory riders is impossible. Those are bikes that look like motorcycles, but they have to be ridden differently. Andrea was fast on the single lap, but over the race distance you have to be very prepared and ride MotoGP from the beginning of the season. Otherwise then you see anything that crosses your track. Sepang is the worst race that can happen to you. It was a borderline mission."
Would you have liked to race in his place?
"As I said, it happened to me twice in the last two years and it's all good until you actually have to get on the bike. It's a lot harder than doing a Superbike race. However, if you ask a rider if he wants to ride a MotoGP bike, he will always say yes. As much as you know you're going to suffer, and you're going to struggle to finish last, it's a thrill that repays all the effort you put into racing."
You in the Malaysia tests seemed ready to reach paradise before you even started.
"Sweating a lot, I've always suffered in hot races and there have been few that I've done really well. Sepang if you're not perfectly trained, or if you are but don't have the bike in place, it shows you its worst. One year, I lost 5kg of fluid in the hour or so I had the suit on. It wears you down."
Now you'll have to go from the track ... to the parking lots, to prepare for what lies ahead this winter.
"Eh, yeah. I have to get my license, but that's all I can say because I don't want to jinx it - I have to take tests and get a license (smiles). Times are tight. After EICMA I'll stay a few days at home, to take my mind off things. Then I have a pretty full winter ahead of me."
