Danilo Petrucci has regained his smile
Danilo Petrucci, words after podium in race-2 at Phillip Island
Having overcome the bitterness of what happened on Saturday (specifically, the problem in the pit lane that prevented him from fighting for victory), Danilo Petrucci è made up for it in race-2 at Phillip Island, the closing round of the first weekend of World Superbike 2024. At Phillip Island 'Petrux' è finished third, behind Alex Lowes and Alvaro Bautista, also coming out on top among independent team riders.
Danilo Petrucci: "After the second start I knew I could do it"
"It's great to end the weekend by getting on the podium, after a good battle – commented Petrucci on the sidelines of the race in Australia – . Even yesterday I could have fought to finish in the top three but we were unlucky in the pit stop. Plus, this morning I didn't feel so comfortable and I was a little scared for race-2".
Everything è però changed after the start: "In the first three laps I realized that I could stay with those in front – explained the ex-MotoGp centaur -. Also the second start, after Jonathan Rea's accident, è was good. So I realized that I could play it out until the end, I put it all also to finish first among the independents".
Final laps in the heartbeat
The last laps, for Petrucci, were heart-pounding: "I overtook Iannone and Rinaldi – told the ternano -, but then Andrea resorpassed me and when at the last lap I passed him in my turn I saw Locatelli go giù, thus realizingì to be on the podium at the checkered flag".
For the Barni Spark Racing Team rider è an unexpected result in its own way, since the Phillip Island circuit è always been hostile for the number 9 on the grid. "I am really happy,” confirmed Petrucci. “Here in Australia I have always been a bit unlucky, while today è it went very well. I thank my team, è also thanks to them that I got this result".
