The rider from Terni revealed what he did when he received Barni’s offer, then he talked about the new championship and other interesting aspects of the motorbike world
March 20, 2023
After the interesting interview with Davide Tardozzi Zam spoke to another great motorsport character, that is Daniel Petrucci. The video interview touched on many interesting points, here are just a few.
The driver born in 1990 has added another piece to the mosaic of his career: the Superbike championship.
After the Ama Superbike with the same bike, someone says: same bike, all easy. It is true?
“No, the tracks are different, the asphalts different but above all the tires are opposite. The set-up, due to the tyres, is totally different from Ama to Sbk. It took me more time but in Indonesia we saw what I can do , I was first of the independents, but I want to get on the podium as soon as possible”
On the level of the Sbk championship…
“Bautista is doing a great job, he really has the bike in hand, the level is high and they’ve grown further”
On the Superpole race…
“I have to get used to it, it’s a bit difficult for me, it’s always like it’s the last lap, the last corner”
Will it be like this in MotoGP too?
“We have to see it, even half the race in the MotoGP isn’t a walk in the park. Then Sunday will be tough. The Sprint race will shuffle the cards a lot. The balance will change a lot”
After the last Valencia 2021 race in MotoGP, you were no longer having fun, then came the Dakar, the Ama and everything we know. How is the SBK?
“I like it, there’s less pressure. In MotoGP, when you’re in the top ten, everything is very nice, but if you’re outside the top ten, it’s not. One detail has changed, that is, the casing of the rear tyre, until 2018 for smaller riders it was a problem, but no for me. Instead in 2020-2021 I no longer found the right confidence. Winning the last race in the wet was a relief (France 2020 with Ducati, ed), so I thought ‘I’m not stoned’ But not being in the top ten anymore is something that emptied me inside, doing more and collecting less had finished me”
Then?
“Then last year with Dakar and Ama I thought that racing on motorcycles is what I like. Being able to race in a world championship with a factory bike doesn’t happen every day, so I said why not give it a try? I’m happy to how I’m dealing with it, without expectations. But it’s nice, I didn’t expect the Sbk to be so nice, and also to have the public back”
Is a victory unthinkable?
“No, no. When Barni called me, I went to Wikipedia to see who were the riders who had won grand prix in both MotoGP and Superbike. They are very heavy names, I would like to stay in that club. I think there are 18, there are Biaggi , Melandri, Doohan, Crutchlow, Spies, Bayliss, Kocinsky, all riders I watched on TV. I’d like to be among them, I’d also be the only one who won the Dakar”
What environment did you find in Sbk?
“Nice, fewer people, less money, it’s no secret, the hatred between teams is less. Being a championship that is much more than enthusiasts, you see many people who like to work on bikes, but I also really like the MotoGP and for this reason also the Sbk, there’s a lot of passion and you understand it much better in the paddock”
On MotoGP: Bagnaia favorite?
“Yes, even from what he showed last year, Pecco has always done well in Portimao. He’s in great shape, he’s shown it since the end of 2021”
Danilo, do you watch the MotoGP races?
“After Valencia I said: ‘I won’t even get a season ticket!’. Then last year I started watching FP1 in Qatar, I was in America, I watched them like someone who couldn’t wait for anything else! No, no, I watch them … as I watch all the championships, I spend a lot on season tickets!”
