Danilo Petrucci First Rider To Win MotoGP Race AND Dakar Rally Stage

After retiring from the MotoGP championship following the 2021 season, Italian motorcycle racer Danilo ‘Petrux’ Petrucci announced he was to race in the upcoming 2022 Dakar Rally in January 2022.

A favourite in the MotoGP paddock for his good guy attitude and sunny optimism, Danilo made a roaring start to his first Dakar Rally before some technical trouble with his KTM bike saw him disqualified from the race timings. However, he was allowed to rejoin the race the next day though he would no longer be in the official final standings, which didn’t seem to bother Danilo much as he was keen to gain more experience in the rally in his rookie year.

It was Stage 5 that saw Danilo take the win when fellow KTM rider Toby Price was hit with a speeding penalty, which saw Danilo moved up to the top spot. After having received a similar penalty after racing in third in Stage 4, this victory was sure to have put a smile on Danilo’s face, and quite possibly some tears of joy too! This win cemented his status as the only rider to ever win a MotoGP race and a stage at the Dakar Rally!

Danilo continues to put in an impressive performance in the Dakar Rally, though it’s not always plain-sailing with the rider having some issues with his bike. Never one to overly dwell on matters, it seems that even in difficult moments, Danilo always finds a way to put a smile on everyone’s face, including these children who showed support for his efforts.

Forza, Danilo!

About Steph 65 Articles
Riding motorcycles since the age of 17, Steph loves all things motorbikes. Her favourite MotoGP rider is Jorge Lorenzo and she looks forward to one day taking to the race track herself.

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