When the news came out that Danilo Petrucci was leaving the MotoGP paddock, I expected to hear shortly afterwards that the two-time MotoGP race...
Red Bull Content Pool
When the news came out that Danilo Petrucci was leaving the MotoGP paddock, I expected to hear shortly afterwards that the two-time MotoGP race winner (Mugello 2019, Le Mans 2020) had signed for a WSBK team. But that news never came. Instead, we heard of his plans to compete in the Dakar Rally. Nice one. He certainly wouldn’t have been the first ex-MotoGP rider to enter the Dakar. But, after a few stages into the 2022 Dakar Rally, it looked as though Petrucci might just be the first ex-MotoGP rider to win one. And now he is.
I say that because right from the off, Petrucci has been seriously impressive at the 2022 Dakar Rally. Unfortunately, he won’t be anywhere in the overall standings, thanks to a mechanical DNF in stage two, but he’s kept going, and he’s absolutely flying.
The fact is, that he’s not just fast for a rookie; he’s fast full stop. He was fourth fastest when he broke down in stage two, he was leading at one point in stage four, and he has only gone and stuck it on the top of the podium in stage five this morning. Outstanding, old boy!
Leg-ends
Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Content Pool
Out of nowhere, Danilo Petrucci is mixing it with Dakar legends; smoking previous winners like Toby Price, Sam Sunderland and Matthias Walkner. I can’t stress how impressive that is. It’s his first Dakar Rally. The bloke has never been a World Champion enduro rider or anything like that.
I’ve done some number crunching, and worked out that, at this point, had he not suffered the mechanical DNF in stage two (assuming he maintained the fourth position he was in at the time), he’d be ninth overall. That’s with the ten minute penalty he received in stage four (presumably for speeding in a neutral zone). Without the penalty, he’d be fifth right now.
Noob
Red Bull Content Pool
Maybe it’s beginner’s luck. Or maybe he’s just really, really, really good on a bike. My money is on the latter. And if I were a betting man, I’d also bet money on the fact that Danilo Petrucci, before the 2022 Dakar is over, will bag another stage win. I’d also bet a few quid on him one day winning a Dakar outright. If he’s this fast as a newbie, imagine how good he’ll be with a few years’ experience under his belt.
Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Content Pool
I’ll be keeping a close eye on Petrucci for the rest of the ’22 Dakar Rally because I’m really excited to see what he can do. I’m just trying to ignore the fact that it’s almost certainly another person that’s going to beat Fagan and me when we make our Dakar debut in a year’s time.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.