Forner MotoGP star Danilo Petrucci will join the WorldSBK ranks in 2023 after signing a deal with the Barni Ducati team.
It was the Bergamo-based team that launched Petrucci in the Superstock 1000 class in 2011. That year, aboard the Ducati 1098R, he secured the Italian championship title as well as second place in the FIM World Cup, after scoring four race wins.
“I’m really pleased to be back with Barni. 2011 was one of my best ever seasons but, more importantly, I couldn’t say no to the chance to race in World Superbike with such a competitive bike,” said Petrucci.
“It’s a championship in which I’ve never competed, and I can’t wait to measure up against the competition. I want to thank the entire Barni team for giving me this opportunity and everybody that has contributed to making this agreement possible.”
Born in Terni on 24 October 1990, the Italian rider competed in MotoGP for ten years, six of which with Ducati, and won two races in the process (Le Mans 2020 and Mugello 2019).
2022 saw him compete in the Dakar Rally, where he became the only rider to have ever won at least one MotoGP race and a Dakar stage. He also competed in MotoAmerica, riding a Dunlop-shod Ducati Panigale V4 R and placing second in the championship, and in MotoGP for one race with Suzuki.
