Danilo Petrucci has all-but-confirmed once more that he will be Stateside bound for the 2022 motorcycle racing season after penning a deal to race with Ducati in the MotoAmerica Superbike series.
The two-time MotoGP race winner hasn’t erred far from the headlines in recent weeks after trying his hand at rally raid with an entry into the Dakar Rally on a KTM 450 Rally, where he impressed with his pace - even scoring a historic stage win - despite not being classified overall after retiring after SS2.
Given an 11h 30secs penalty as a condition of being able to restart, Petrucci would have finished just outside the top 40 had he not been forced to stop.
With his Dakar and KTM experience over, Petrucci now turns his attention to the next adventure, which he confirms will be a ride in the United States on the factory-backed Dark Horse HSBK Ducati Panigale V4 R.
“It’s a life experience,” he told Cycle World. “I have the opportunity to live abroad and ride motorbikes, which is the thing I love most. I have always been in love with the United States. I love the lifestyle over there, the open spaces.
“Every winter I fly to California, rent a bike, and go ride for a couple of weeks in between Los Angeles and San Diego. Last time I went to Ocotillo. I have friends there like Giacomo Redondi, who is currently racing cross-country in the US.
Adding that he didn’t pursue a move to WorldSBK, though Petrucci parted ways with Ducati on acrimonious terms in MotoGP after he was replaced by Jack Miller, he says it was the Italian firm that contacted him.
"I’m happy because it was Ducati that contacted me. They did everything to get me. It’s very satisfying. When I left the MotoGP Ducati factory team, I remained on good terms with Claudio Domenicali, Gigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti and Davide Tardozzi. They pushed to have me in MotoAmerica. It’s a satisfaction."
Petrucci takes over the seat previously occupied by Loris Baz, who returns to WorldSBK this year with Bonovo BMW. He isn’t the first ex-MotoGP rider to head to the US, with Toni Elias enjoying success there in the years since leaving the premier class, while Hector Barbera has also made starts in the US.
