Danilo Petrucci on danger: “I was afraid of losing my legs”

On 11 April 2024, Danilo Petrucci suffered a horrific crash whilst training at a motocross track in Cingoli; he still remembers the aftermath all too well. “I knocked out a few teeth and my jaw was shattered. I also had fractures in my collarbone and shoulder blade.” Danilo says this matter-of-factly, but he knows full well that the crash could have resulted in permanent damage or even his death – he was incredibly lucky.

The Italian was competing in his second season in the Superbike World Championship for the Barni Spark team at the time, and he was back on the Ducati by mid-June! Petrucci was helped by the fact that there were no races in May and, due to his injuries, he only missed Assen. From Brüx (Most) in early July onwards, he raced onto the podium ten times over the rest of the season; at his home race in Cremona, in the absence of the injured Toprak Razgatlioglu – who would later become world champion – he secured a triple victory – it was like a fairy tale. “In 2024, I was the top points-scorer across Portimão, Magny-Cours and Cremona combined,” the evergreen rider grinned mischievously during his meeting with SPEEDWEEK.com.

Danilo Petrucci’s right hand: three plates, 28 screws

In 2025, he was well on his way to finishing third in the World Championship, but shortly before the season finale he fractured his right hand several times whilst weight training and consequently missed the final races at Estoril and Jerez. “I still have three plates and 28 screws in that hand today,” Petrucci noted. He finished fifth in the World Championship, but at least he ended the season as the top privateer and had a BMW works contract in the bag for 2026.

As Toprak’s successor, there were huge expectations weighing on Danilo, “but then everything that could go wrong did,” he said, summing up his season with the White and Blues. “Because of the bad weather, we didn’t have any winter tests, and just as I was getting better, I got injured at Most and was afraid I’d lose my legs. I was in a lot of pain, especially in my left thigh. I had two small fractures, in my coccyx and in the head of my fibula.” Added to this were painful injuries to his knee and muscles; due to the extensive swelling, over a litre of accumulated blood had to be drained. The days that followed were pure agony.

Petrucci could no longer overcome his fear

“Over the past three years, I’ve had serious accidents, operations and rehabilitation,” said Danilo, looking back on those difficult times. “I was battling with myself, with my body. At 36, it’s tough to come back from injuries. If you’re afraid after a crash, it’s difficult. Then, right from the first lap, you start thinking differently and see dangers – at 25, you see opportunities. If you’re afraid on the motorbike – that’s not a job like it is for a normal employee.”

‘Petrux’, who has won races in the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships as well as the US Championship and the Superstock 1000 Cup – not to mention his stage victory at the Dakar Rally – calls a spade a spade, even if it’s to his own detriment.

I wasn’t good enough and couldn’t get the most out of the bike.

Petrucci on his year with BMW

“My biggest strength and, at the same time, my biggest weakness has always been that I tell the truth,” he said of himself. “I told BMW that I needed to take a step back because I couldn’t ride the bike the way it needs to be ridden. I wasn’t good enough and couldn’t get the most out of the bike. I realised that I couldn’t influence that. Especially when I’m riding in pain. It’s difficult to explain. Even if you focus intensely on it, something like that is always in the back of your mind. After a while, it becomes difficult to keep fighting that battle with your mind over and over again. Racers are like painters or singers: to paint a good picture or write a powerful song, you need inspiration. But there’s also a life after racing – which I want to enjoy. I want to be happy, but I don’t yet know how I’ll manage that.”

For the 2027 MotoAmerica season, the veteran rider has received an offer from the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha team, with whom Bobby Fong won the championship this year. Danilo will carefully consider whether this is what he wants. Or whether he’ll focus on his three restaurants and get his pilot’s licence and boat licence.