Danilo Petrucci acknowledges Ducati exit, wants to remain in MotoGP

Danilo Petrucci has for the first time publicly acknowledged he will be exiting the Ducati MotoGP fold at the end of the year following the appointment of Jack Miller to the factory team for the 2021 MotoGP season.

Last week Ducati confirmed Australian Miller will be promoted from the Pramac Racing team to ride with the official works outfit next year, though the manufacturer declined to say who he would be replacing.

Nevertheless, it has long been assumed Miller would take the place of Petrucci, with Andrea Dovizioso – runner-up for the past three seasons – understood to be close to a contract extension.

Now Petrucci himself has revealed he won’t be continuing with Ducati next season. Though speculation has instead linked him with an alternative Ducati deal to compete in the WorldSBK Championship, Petrucci says his preference is to remain in the top flight.

“Ducati has made the decision not to continue our relationship,” he told TMG Umbria. “It is clear that it is something that I dislike, but my objective is to remain in MotoGP "

As it stands, Petrucci’s best MotoGP option appears to be a move to Aprilia Racing with Aleix Espargaro telling Radio Catalunya recently that he features high on the team’s wish-list.

However, Aprilia remains committed to Andrea Iannone, despite his current suspension for a failed drugs test, with the team seemingly preferring to wait until his upcoming appeal hearing before making a decision on an alternative rider.

In the meantime, Petrucci says he can only use the upcoming 2020 MotoGP campaign to reassert himself as a potential asset to any team and vows to come back strong following this disappointment.

“I only won a year ago [at Mugello], he continued. “Therefore, I would like to be able to win again.

“I am grateful to Ducati for the experience, I still have this contract season and I hope he can restore confidence with some satisfaction . I am confident about it and I hope the races start soon."