BSN's Top 10 WorldSBK Riders of the Year: 3rd - Danilo Petrucci
12/17/2024 03:46 AM
Winter is upon us, but now is the perfect time to look back at the 2024 World Superbike Championship. BSN brings you our Top 10 World Superbike Riders of the Year.
Making our way into the top three we have... Danilo Petrucci!
| 3rd: | Danilo Petrucci |
| Team: | Barni Spark Racing Team |
| Motorcycle: | Ducati Panigale V4 R |
| Overall Classification: | 5th |
| Points: | 307 |
| Best Result: | 1st [Round 9, Cremona Circuit] |
Danilo Petrucci's second year in World Superbikes was an incredible story for a satellite rider who faced difficulties on and off the track in 2024.
After an impressive rookie season in 2023, it would be a hard task for Danilo Petrucci to get much better in 2024. However, the Italian improved yet again even whilst battling for his life in the early stages of the season.
In the past, Petrucci spent 10 years in MotoGP with Ioda, ART, Ducati and KTM but he has found his greatest level of success in Superbike racing. In 2022 Petrucci moved to America and took part in MotoAmerica for one season on a Ducati. Petrucci won four races and finished second in the standings.
For the 2023 season, Barni Spark Racing signed Petrucci for their World Superbike campaign. In his rookie season, he finished seventh overall with three podiums to his name. But this was just the start of Petrucci's journey in the world of Superbike racing.
The 2024 season had a normal start for Petrucci as he competed in the Australian and Barcelona rounds in February and March. However, before Round Three in Assen, the Italian almost lost his life in a training accident. Petrucci stated that he broke some teeth, his jaw in two parts, his collarbone and his shoulder blade.
Despite these extensive injuries, Petrucci returned two months later for Round Four in Misano. The 34-year-old went on to complete the rest of the 2024 season and only missed three races out of 36.
Petrucci also went on to claim his first World Superbike victories in 2024. He won all three races at the Italian Round in Cremona on his Ducati Panigale V4 R, as well as his three race wins he stood on the podium seven further times.
At the end of the 2024 World Superbike season Petrucci finished fifth in the standings with 307 points. He also won the Independent Riders Championship as he beat Andrea Iannone by 76 points.
BSN's Top 10 WorldSBK Riders of 2024
4 - Alvaro Bautista
5 - Alex Lowes
6 - Andrea Iannone
8 - Andrea Locatelli
9 - Garrett Gerloff
10 - Iker Lecuona
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