Danilo Petrucci: What next? Options in MotoAmerica and WorldSBK but will MotoGP tempt him back?
Petrucci was drafted in by Suzuki as a one-race replacement for the injured Joan Mir at 💯Buriram for his first appearance in the championship since an emotional retirement at the end of 🐼2021.
Aﷺ whirlwind year, where he completed a personal dream of racing at the Dakar Rally before an unlikely return to MotoGP, has left him cons💝idering future options.
Asked if he was decided on his next career move, Petrucci﷽ said: “Still nothing. I have options in MotoAmerica and꧂ WorldSBK.
“Fortunately I can chooseꦕ but I need to understand if I want to continue. Or maybe to prepare for the Dakar in 2024. Let’s see.
“I really quit my [MotoGP] career last year in Valencia. I am here on vacation! 👍It is a big pleasure.
“I thought it could never happen that a rider came back, after the D𓄧akar, to MotoGP.
“I ⛦am s๊o, so tired! It is my last day of working this year, I promise.
“I went to Dakar, then Moto꧟America [sin🌼ce the end of the last MotoGP season].
“I need rest. It feels like I rac﷽ed the Dakar three years ago! It was a big thing to race Dakar and MotoGP in the same year. Last week I was in the USA! I can be satisfied.”
Petrucci performed above expectations in the Dakar Rally at the start of this year then finiꦐshed as runner-up in his first ✨MotoAmerica season, just a week before a shock return to MotoGP.
He was only able to finish in 20th for Suzuki at the Thailand MotoGP in horribly wet conditio♈ns but to even compete after his mammoth year was some achievement.
“The team 🔴did the set-up almost blind,” he said of his last-gasp arrival with the ꦛSuzuki team last week.
“I’m happy that I wasn’t last - this means a lot! The pace was good at th𓂃e beginning as the track dried up. I suffered when the front pressure went really high.
“I would have liked to have scored at least one point but I’m happy. I am very prouꦏd to have raced for Suzuki.
“It could have been better but, co🦋nsidering I ju🗹mped on this bike on Friday and the others have been on this bike for 17 races, I am happy.
“It is difficult to compare because, on the Ducati, I have my own set-🎃up.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade cov♉ering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
