It’s a Petrucci visibly exhausted the one who presents himself to journalists in Misano after the first race of the Superbike world championship.
Tired but also excited, Danilo provided one again today concrete demonstration of his character as a pilot.
He started from twelfth position on the grid, and he wasn’t even sure he would be able to finish that race. The long series of right turns was certainly not favorable to his physical condition, given that the sore shoulder is precisely the right one. Petrucci gritted his teeth and managed to cross the finish line, gaining an incredible ninth place.
How do you feel?
“It was very tough. It already is when you are physically fit, 100%, let alone when in practice you are missing an arm. Now I can’t bend it. This morning I didn’t know if I would finish the race, but the team and I told ourselves to try, with the agreement that if I finished higher than fifteenth place I would retire”
Have you taken any painkillers?
“Yes, I had two injections this morning. But it was still tiring, as I didn’t have enough strength in my right arm and it was really difficult to take the fast corners. Especially the ones on the right. During the last five laps I was riding the bike almost only with my legs”
You have achieved a great result…
“Yes. I’m tired but happy, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Before the race I was scared, but I promised myself to try running, taking one lap at a time to see what could happen. I certainly didn’t expect to finish in the top ten.”
