It was an emotional farewell in the pit lane at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto as Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) brought his time in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to a close. Despite a tough final season plagued by bad luck and injuries, the 35-year-old Italian was mobbed by crowds rivalling those for 2026 World Champion Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) as the rain started to fall at the chequered flag.
Reflecting on his journey, an emotional Petrucci explained how difficult the year had been after arriving with high hopes. "With BMW, it was a perfect storm; we had no testing, the bike is so different to what I was used to, and when we were starting to get faster, I got injured at the worst moment of the season," he said, detailing a crash at Most that left him with a broken tailbone and questioning his future at 36 years old. With Brad Binder on the way in 2027 and no seat lined up, the partnership came to an end.
Despite the struggles, the fan-favourite rider expressed profound gratitude for his time in the paddock. "Unfortunately, when I’m really happy, I always cry, I’m crying a lot, so I’m really happy. It’s been an incredible journey for me. I was coming from nowhere," Petrucci shared, adding that his lifelong dream now is simply to be happy.
Looking back across an astonishing career spanning MotoGP manufacturers, MotoAmerica, and Africa's Dakar Rally, Petrucci leaves with his head held high. "I’ve ridden for Ducati, KTM, BMW - not bad for a guy from the countryside in Italy," he said. "My greatest victory is to be able to tell this story... All I can say is thank you."
