Danilo Petrucci is continuing his learning curve on the BMW. The road ahead for Petrux is long and challenging, but he has no intention of throwing in the towel prematurely.
In this chat shared on the eve of the Balaton round, Petrucci explains the work he’s done over the past few months, both behind the scenes and beyond.
As if that weren’t enough, there’s the idea of a brand-new challenge against Toprak at Assen or Mugello, the track where he won his first MotoGP race with Ducati.
“Let’s just say it’s been a pretty intense start to the season, because we didn’t get much track time in testing,” he began. “In the end, we covered more miles during the race weekends. We knew Phillip Island would be a tough track, while Portimao was sort of the first turning point. Over the winter, I tried to adapt to the bike as much as possible without changing it too much, trying to do what Toprak was doing. Then at Portimao, I realized I was overthinking things while riding: I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do, nor what he’s capable of. And when you overthink, you go slow.”
In the Netherlands, however, we saw a step forward...
"At Assen, on the other hand, I simply told myself: “Just ride.” And the results showed, both in lap times and in qualifying. I was faster than Toprak in both qualifying and the race, and that’s positive. We’re not yet getting the results we want, but we’re only at the beginning. Every day we discover something new about the bike that might work for me. We’re coming here with a well-defined plan, and I’m confident. I left Assen feeling a bit disappointed because I rode well but the result didn’t reflect that. But it was a difficult track for us, like Phillip Island."
How big is this challenge? From the outside, it looks huge: is that really the case?
“Yes, it’s a big challenge, probably one of the most important of my career. It’s a bit like making your debut in a new championship. Joining a team that has won the last two world championships is great, but it also brings a lot of pressure and responsibility. At the same time, here I’ve found an environment where there’s always a desire to improve, to focus on the details: that millimeter, that tenth of a second, that small change that ultimately makes the difference. This gives me a lot of confidence and motivation. It’s not easy, but that’s exactly why it’s stimulating.
You’ve always been curious to see Toprak’s data. Did you expect what you found, or were you surprised?
“Toprak is very good at bringing all the bike’s qualities together. In 2024 they also had the concessions, which helped them build a foundation. In 2025, he did an incredible job. He’s not just incredibly strong under braking: he also manages to handle the bike very well in the final corner and get it back up quickly. He’s a massive talent. But you can close the gap by improving in certain areas. At Assen, for example, I was faster than him and even faster than I was last year. That means we’re on the right track.”
You’ve been riding a Ducati for many years. What was it like to switch to BMW and start from scratch?
“The only things in common are the class and the tyres; everything else is different. But I think the BMW suits my style. The problem is that after so many years on another bike, you have habits you have to change. At Assen I was pretty annoyed because I rode really well and thought I deserved more, but we’re closing the gap on the leaders, on a track that wasn’t easy. Here at Balaton there are a lot of hard braking points and the BMW is very stable under braking, so we can get even closer.”
Danilo, there are rumors that you’re celebrating 20 years of racing this year. Do you still remember your first race?
“Yes! It was 2005, in the Amateur Trophy. I got pole position… and then they disqualified me because we had radiator fluid instead of water (smiles)! We had just bought the bike and didn’t know. So pole, and then straight home. I don’t remember all the races I’ve done, because there have been so many, but the great thing is that I want to do more. So there will still be stories to tell.”
How is Petrucci today compared to the past?
“Definitely more mature. I don’t have the explosiveness I had ten years ago, but I have a lot more experience. I’m able to recognize situations sooner and stay calm. Before, when things went wrong, I felt bad off the track too. Now I can ‘switch off,’ reset after a mistake, and stay focused on the moment. This has helped me a lot. I’m happy with where I am and I want to get the BMW on the podium as soon as possible, also because Campino and I made a bet and I want to win it!”
What if there were a direct challenge with Toprak?
“It depends on the track. At Assen I might have an advantage, as well as at Mugello, which is a track I love. We could do it. But it’s hard to make comparisons: at this level, the differences between the bikes are significant. Anyway, I’m also a fan of his: I’ve had the honour of racing with him, just as I have with Jonathan Rea. When someone is strong, they’re strong. There are cycles, easier and harder moments, but the talent remains.”
Speaking of MotoGP: who will win, Marquez or Bezzecchi?
“In MotoGP, on the other hand, it will be a long season: there are more than 40 races, and you have to make few mistakes and bring home points. I’m rooting for Bezzecchi because he’s showing great maturity: the end of last season wasn’t a fluke, and this year he’s come back even stronger. But I won’t say anything else—knock on wood!”