After leaving MotoGP as a full-time rider following a tough ♊year at Tech3 KTM in 2021, Petrucci competed in the Dakar and MotoAmerica before a one-off MotoGP ride for Suzuki at Buriram last season.

Currently eleventh in the World Superbike standings with a best finish of fifth place for Barni Ducati, the 32-year-old has been called up by Ducati to replace Enea Bastianini, who broke his shoulder in t🥀he Portimao sprint race.

Jumping into MotoGP without any prior testing is a massive task and the Le Mans weather forecast currently predicts rain showers during ea⛄ch of the three days.

While mixed conditions would make Petrucci’s adaptation even more complicated, if he gets𓂃 enough time in fully wet conditions might an upset be on the card♛s?

"Coming back to race together with the Ducati Lenovo Team in MotoGP is an indescribable emotion for me, especially beca🌄use I will do it on a track where I got my last World Championship victory in 2020,” Petrucci said.

“I will have the honour of trying the World Champion bike! It certainly won't be an easy weekend, also consi🌟dering the we♓ather conditions, but in the past, in the wet, I have always been competitive.

“However, t♛he goal is to෴ have fun and work well with the team."

Petrucci will have no better person to learn fಌrom as a team-mate with reigning champion and current title leader Francesco Bagnaia on the opposite side of the garage.

After retaking the poin🥃ts lea🦋d in Jerez, the Italian will be looking to avenge a late mistake that cost him victory at Le Mans last season.

"I am happy to be back racing in France, w✱here the atmosphere is always incredib꧟le, thanks to the many fans,” Bagnaia said.

“Le Mans is a track I really like, and where I was fighting for victory last year before the crash. However, c🅺ompared to 2022, we expect lower temperatures and rain all weekend.

“It will be a tric♐ky weeken𝕴d where it will be important to stay focused."