Danilo Petrucci, after showcasing his skills in the recent rounds of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, has confirmed that he will continue racing next season with the Barni Spark Racing Team. Petrucci, who has been consistently fighting for podium finishes since his debut round in June, aims to make history with the team. He has already had significant success with the Barni Ducati, competing for the STK1000 title and securing three podiums in the first nine rounds of his rookie year.
Petrucci did not hide his happiness in continuing with the team: ‘I am very happy. This year was a great challenge for me to race again in a world championship, at the highest level. It was difficult at the beginning. I was not sure if it was a good decision to come here, but after a few races, we felt good with the team and achieved some good results. Both parties, myself and Barni, want to come back for another year with an even better bike and more support from Ducati and, especially, more experience with this bike, the tire, and this team. We are aiming for a big, big challenge. I think it is possible to reach the podium as many times as possible at the end of the season. I can’t wait to finish this season and start the new one with many challenges. It is important to always be present, as we are doing this season in the second half. We are always among the top five, which is good. We just need one more small step to always be in the mix and fight with the ‘Titanic Trio’. I am convinced that, with another full year of experience, we can do even better next year. I want to win because it is my greatest challenge. It is my dream to be one of the riders who won a race in MotoGP and in WorldSBK’.
Marco Barnabò, Team Manager, reacted to the Italian’s continuity in this way: ‘I am very happy to renew this contract. When our adventure with Danilo began, I was already thinking about charting a path with him. I knew it wouldn’t be easy at the beginning, because the level of the championship is high – something that is not always perceptible from the outside – but I also knew that if we worked hard, we could have good results, and that proved to be true. We modified the bike according to Danilo’s needs, he also adapted, and now that we are competitive, the most logical thing is to continue together to try to reap the rewards of this work, both in the remainder of this season and next year. The work team will remain as it is for that reason. I want to thank the rider for trusting us, the team members who are working hard, and all the sponsors who have decided to support us so that Danilo can also continue.’
