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Danilo Petrucci is returning to the Dakar and this time he will race with trucks, holding high the colors of the Italtrans team for the occasion. A challenge that fascinates, one strongly desired by Prometeon, which convinced the rider from Terni to accept the adventure at the start in Saudi Arabia next January 3.
Obviously this could not have happened without the intervention of Alberto Vergani, who for years has been looking after the interests of the Terni rider, engaged in Superbike with the Barni team. With the manager from Milan, we had a quick chat about the challenge in the desert that awaits Petrux.
"Danilo will be a kind of wild card in this Dakar," he said, "it's something beautiful, unusual, curious, because we are talking about a MotoGP and Superbike rider who faces a unique challenge. He, however, is different, as a result he will spend these 20 days in the desert with a truck, maturing a new life experience."
Do you still remember Righi's proposal?
"Of course! Righi from Prometeon proposed it to me and I talked about it with Petrux: when I told him about the truck, at first he was puzzled and at the same time all excited, because it was something completely new. But then we agreed."
Some say that Danilo, in the truck, will be more comfortable than on the bike....
"To tell you the truth, I don't see all the comfort that it may seem from the outside. I think Danilo will have to work his butt off, in some cases he will even have to shovel sand. It certainly won't be easy, but I think he will still arrive ready for the Jerez tests scheduled for January."
Danilo is motivated though, do you share his emotion?
"Of course! He is very curious because in the end this Dakar will be something fun and unique. For sure it will be tough, although compared to motorcycles it is better because he will be able to enjoy a few more hours of sleep (smiles)."
Petrucci could have returned to the Dakar already last year....
"True! After his experience in MotoAmerica, he thought he would be right there at the front fighting for wins in Superbike, but unfortunately he lacked confidence with the tires. So he was getting a little discouraged and at the same time there was Fantic pressing him hard for the Dakar. As usual I let the rider decide, knowing that there was a proposal for him on the table. I told Danilo to wait until the Donington round, where he then made his first podium. When he returned home he decided to continue with Barni."
And to this day he is still there...
"Yes. The story, however, is very peculiar, because racing in World Superbike was economically inconvenient for Danilo. After the battle with Gagne, there was so much interest in him in America, in fact the Organizer and the sponsor of the Championship did everything to keep him. So in America they offered him a fortune, but with Barni there was a serious and important project on the table. Danilo chose the hard way, and maybe that's why people like him so much. He is a real guy, genuine, simple, affordable."
How long will we see him race?"Danilo can go beyond 40! If you win the desire increases, if you struggle it drops. In the end the result is the fuel of every rider. This year in the World Championship we managed to win and maybe we could even finish third. No one would have imagined all these difficulties from Bautista while BMW showed with Toprak an incredible partnership. Bulega, on the other hand, was superlative, a champion, both on and off the track."
