After missing the last MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship round through injuries sustained in a training accident, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) has opened up about the crash, how his recovery is going and lessons he’s learnt from the incident. ‘Petrux’ also discussed how he felt watching substitute rider Nicholas Spinelli win on his bike as well as how, after competing in and watching from the sidelines this season, WorldSBK is shaping up in 2024.

THE RECOVERY: “at least it’s good because I’m losing quite a lot of weight!”

Petrucci went under the knife following his training crash in Italy, which resulted in the #9 suffering a fractured jaw, collarbone, and shoulder blade but he was discharged from hospital in mid-April after two surgeries. Providing an update on his recovery and explaining when he wants to be back on track, Petrucci said when speaking on May 2^nd: “I have no more stitches. I can’t chew. I can eat but only small and soft things. At least it’s good because I’m losing quite a lot of weight! I need to keep my shoulder still so I can’t move it for another 15 days. I did an MRI, and I don’t have any issues with the ligaments and the tendons, but the shoulder blade needs to be still because it needs to be fixed naturally. I mostly have to wait and see if the shoulder blade, the fracture, heals and I can push on my arm. The Misano test is still the target. We haven’t got a lot of time, but we can be at the test at the end of the month. I’m doing a lot of therapy. In my home, I have a magnetotherapy, it feels like a magnetic field where I lie down during the night, and I have some stuff to put on the broken bone. I’m taking a lot of supplements for vitamins to help the bones to repair. We are doing everything to try to be at the Misano test.”

THE CRASH: “I landed on the ramp of the next jump, like a hammer hitting a nail”

After explaining some details about the crash in the video he posted when he was released from hospital, the four-time WorldSBK podium finisher expanded on that in the interview with WorldSBK.com. He said “It was a big accident, really. I’ve been unlucky because I made that mistake once, you’ll make it one time in your life, and it happened to me. It was a bad area of this motocross track. It was like a ski jump. The faster you go, the higher you are, so I was really afraid. The last thing I remember was being up in the air. I just landed on the ramp of the next jump, like a hammer hitting a nail, so I smashed myself on the ramp of the other jump. I don’t remember anything, just that I was about 15 metres up in the air and I had nothing to do; I just had to wait to go into the floor.”

REFLECTING ON THE ACCIDENT: “I’m happier now than before”

Despite the seriousness of the crash, Petrucci was also philosophical about the events and believed there were lessons for him to learn. He continued: “I’ve been lucky because I have no injuries on my leg or my back, this is the most important thing, and I was especially lucky too because I received this hit on my head just a few centimetres from my neck bones. I smashed my jaw in the only part where the helmet was not protecting me. I smashed my face on the handlebar, and it was a really, I think, lucky accident. I smashed my jaw in three pieces, there’s a smashed collarbone in two and the shoulder blade is broken. This is the most difficult thing to repair, the shoulder blade, because the jaw is fixed by plates and screws and the collarbone, but the shoulder blade is still broken. I need to keep it still. I think I’m happier now than before. It gives me the strength and I think it was a good thing to learn from and to grow up a bit to not risk as much, change my training a bit and be calmer. I say, ‘at 34 years old, I don’t need to be stronger, but smarter’. I was not doing that. I was just training to be stronger and stronger.”

SEEING BARNI’S FIRST WIN FROM AFAR: “I was really happy to watch that race!”

With Petrucci missing out on the Dutch Round, his Barni Ducati team drafted in Nicholas Spinelli for his WorldSBK debut, and he made the most of it. A stunning tyre gamble in Race 1 – using an all-intermediate combination – coupled with a red flag just as his rivals closed on him allowed Spinelli to win on debut and take the team’s first World Superbike win. Petrucci spoke candidly about watching this from afar, stating he was happy for Team Manager Marco Barnabo – affectionately known as ‘Barni’ – after he was one of the first to visit him after the crash.

He said: “I was happy for Spinelli and Barni. Barni was one of the first guys to come to the hospital to see my condition, and he was sad because we were in a good moment. We were fighting for the podiums and the top five. Assen is one of my favourite tracks. I think, in the end, we’ve been unlucky with the accident but, on the other hand, lucky. Maybe someone up in the air looked down and decided this was our lucky week, for me because I escaped a really bad accident and for Barni, who lost one rider for that race, but he won his first race. I was happy to watch that race.”

WorldSBK IN 2024: “you never know who’s going to win or stand on the podium…”

After racing for two rounds this season, and watching a third from home, Petrucci was able to give his thoughts on WorldSBK in 2024, saying: “It’s nice to watch WorldSBK. I told everyone at the start of the season that I think there are at least 12 different riders who can get on the podium and a lot of them can win races. It’s really challenging to join in because you can be in the top three and, in the next session, in 12^th. It’s hard but it’s nice to watch for the fans because you never know who’s going to win or stand on the podium. From the inside, it’s nice, but hard because we’re all close so it’s really difficult to create a gap. Even if you are in tenth place, you can still fight for the podium, because everyone is close on race pace. The new rules have given a bit more competition.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

WorldSBK and Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, one of France’s premier racing venues, are thrilled to announce the extension of their partnership, securing Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours’ presence on the calendar until 2027.

The renewed agreement solidifies a new three-year contract, spanning the 2025, 2026, and 2027 seasons, emphasizing the mutual commitment to the continued growth and success of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The announcement follows the success of the 2023 edition of the event, where attendance figures soared, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and establishing a robust foundation for the event’s future growth.

“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours,” said Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director. “The circuit has consistently delivered great racing moments and showcased the passion and dedication of the French fans. This extension reflects our shared commitment to providing the best possible experience for both riders and spectators. We look forward to the next years of competition at this world-class facility.”

Nestled in the picturesque Nievre department, Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours has been a favourite among riders and fans for its challenging layout, technical sections, and enthusiastic spectator base. The commitment of the Nievre local government to the support of WorldSBK events at the circuit is unwavering, with an ongoing partnership that ensures the circuit is devoted to promoting and fostering the socio-economic development of the Nievre region.

As part of this commitment, a state-of-the-art race control room made its WorldSBK debut during the 2023 event. The infrastructure upgrade, featuring new monitoring facilities, was made possible through a joint effort between Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours and the Departmental Council of Nievre, an investment integral to maintaining the circuit’s Grade B homologation.

Serge Saulnier, Chairman of the Board, Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, expressed satisfaction about the extended partnership, stating: “Extending our agreement is the result of close collaboration between Dorna teams and Magny-Cours Circuit. 2024 will mark the 22nd year of hosting the French WorldSBK round, a testament to the enduring loyalty between this championship and Magny-Cours. Our teams, supported by La Nievre department, consistently strive to enhance our infrastructure and ensure the safety of competitors. We eagerly anticipate welcoming WorldSBK fans to Magny-Cours on September 6th, 7th, and 8th.”

The extended partnership marks a new milestone for both WorldSBK and Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, reinforcing their dedication to delivering world-class racing experiences. As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship continues to captivate audiences around the globe, the collaboration between these two entities ensures that the French Round remains a highlight on the racing calendar for years to come.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has seen plenty of drama over the years, some of which has come down to choosing the right tyre at the right time. Sometimes it’s starting on a completely different type of tyre – a wet-weather one instead of a dry, perhaps – or choosing a softer compound, but every decision matters and can prove crucial in races. Let’s look back at some of the biggest tyre choices and how they led to success…

NICHOLAS SPINELLI, ASSEN RACE 1, 2024: the intermediate call

Starting with the most recent, if you look up “super sub” in the dictionary now, you’ll see “Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team)”. Epitomising the phrase, Spinelli replaced the injured Danilo Petrucci at Assen and found himself on the top step of the rostrum. He went for an intermediate front and rear tyre on a wet track, while everyone else went for slicks with the rain stopping and track drying. A well-timed red flag – for Spinelli and the team anyway – meant he held on for victory in his first race, after his lead of almost 26 seconds was cut to two at the time of the stoppage, with a third of the race remaining.

JONATHAN REA, MOST RACE 1, 2023: a first, and only, win of the year

Jonathan Rea’s (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) final season with the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK outfit was difficult, with only one win to his name. That came at the Autodrom Most, when he opted to use intermediate tyres while his rivals went for full wets. Losing ground in the opening laps, he stormed his way to P1 when the track dried out, taking advantage of not quite dry conditions and his opponents switching tyres for a last win with KRT.

ALVARO BAUTISTA, AUSTRALIA SUPERPOLE RACE, 2022: a risk pays off

With that year’s title won, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had nothing to lose in the Tissot Superpole Race, and he opted for slicks on a damp-but-drying track. He lost ground at the start of the 10-lap race, dropping to 14^th at the end of Lap 1 from pole position, but was soon into his grove and fought his way into the lead, before claiming victory by just over three seconds. You can watch his epic comeback from his onboard camera right HERE.

SCOTT REDDING, ARAGON RACE 2, 2021: slicks on a drying track

When racing for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) took a big risk at MotorLand Aragon. A pre-race shower had dampened the track but the #45 opted to go for slick tyres and it looked like it wouldn’t pay off for the Brit, initially dropping down to fifth. However, with the track constantly drying, he took the lead on Lap 6 and didn’t look back, going on to claim his first victory of the year by almost 10 seconds.

CHAZ DAVIES, MAGNY-COURS RACE 1, 2016: intermediates as others go for full wets

The Magny-Cours circuit was wet but with the sun shining, Chaz Davies was able to make the intermediate tyre work during Race 1 in France on his Ducati. He started from third and was able to stay in that group throughout the race but lost time in the opening stages, before fighting his way to the front as others opted to make pit stops and change from their full wet tyres. He took the lead ahead of Tom Sykes on Lap 17 of 21 and didn’t look back for the first of his two wins that weekend.

PIERFRANCESCO CHILI, MISANO RACE 2, 2004: a fierce fightback

After dropping to 11^th in the opening part of the race, Pierfrancesco Chili, using intermediate tyres with the threat of rain looming, to full advantage on home soil. With 10 laps to go, the Italian was trailing race leader Regis Laconi by 10 seconds, but the pace Chili had in the closing stages meant that gap came down before a stunning last-lap pass meant Chili claimed his last WorldSBK win.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is well underway, with three rounds and nine races already in the history books and a lot becoming an instant classic. From last-lap deciders, final corner showdowns and incredible tyre gambles, the first quarter of 2024 has had everything. Now it’s time to dissect what we’ve been able to learn from the first three rounds with a stunning season in store.

BMW IN CONTENTION AT EVERY TRACK: wins in Barcelona and at Assen for the first time…

BMW’s step forward in 2024 was clear but now it’s safe to say they’re in contention at most, if not every, circuit. At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, neither BMW nor Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had won before. Until this year. A strategic masterclass followed up by an unforgettable final-corner showdown changed their record, and it was similar at Assen too. Neither rider nor manufacturer had tasted victory but the #54 changed that. The good thing for BMW is it’s not just Razgatlioglu at the front, with teammate Michael van der Mark close to the front in 2024.

ALEX LOWES’ BIG STEP FORWARD: eight top-six finishes in nine races

With Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) leaving KRT for this season, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) became the de facto team leader and he’s embraced that role. He’s now working with Pere Riba and has spoken about what they’re working on including managing situations better, with the team getting results. Two wins, three podiums and every race bar one in the top six show the Brit’s progress in 2024.

A THREE-WAY TITLE FIGHT? Bautista, Bulega and Razgatlioglu to battle it out?

The top three in the Championship are just starting to break away from the rest of the pack, potentially setting up a three-rider title fight. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed the standings lead at Assen and he’s six points ahead of Razgatlioglu in second, while Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is third on 109 points and eight behind the #54. It’s early days, there’s plenty of twists to come, but will WorldSBK in 2024 be a three-way title fight?

IANNONE’S LEVEL IS REAL: no pre-round testing, still towards the front

Both the Australia and Catalunya Rounds featured a pre-round test in the lead up to the weekend, but the Dutch Round didn’t have this. It perhaps added an extra challenge for Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), but he proved he was rapid without testing beforehand, fighting towards the front and in the podium places more often than not at Assen. Of course, it’s a circuit he knows well from his MotoGP™ days, but it had still been four years without riding there competitively.

REA FINDING HIS FEET AT YAMAHA: a pole position and closer to the front

Jonathan Rea’s (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) move to Yamaha hasn’t gone quite as he’d expected just yet, but there were signs in the Netherlands that he’s adapting to the R1 machine. He took pole in mixed conditions and was closer to the front than he’d been before – 5.376s from victory in Race 1, compared to 16.963s in Barcelona Race 2 (he didn’t finish Race 1) and 38 seconds in Australia Race 1 (he didn’t finish Race 2, so no comparison can be made) – before being caught up in Lowes’ Turn 1 accident in Race 2 at Assen. The first blue podium remains elusive and maybe conditions helped a bit, but Rea and Yamaha will be happy to see him closer to the front with more to come.

MAKING PROGESS: compared to 2023…

After three rounds, it’s possible to make comparisons with to 2023. The big one is that BMW have scored 80 more points this year compared to last season (126 in 2024 vs 46 last season), with Kawasaki also up by seven points. Yamaha have lost the most in a year-on-year comparison, down 42 points, with Honda 33 points lower and Ducati 17 down in a year-on-year comparison. In terms of riders, Alex Lowes and van der Mark are the big winners, up 49 and 39 points respectively. Riders who have switched teams are generally down year-on-year; Rea’s down 50 points and Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) is 55 points worse off. Razgatlioglu is also down, but only by a point and, of course, he had a technical problem fighting for the podium in Race 2 in Australia. Although he didn’t switch teams, Bautista is worse off compared to 2023 to the tune of 51 points.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

One novelty that came when the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship calendar was announced was the Cremona Circuit in northern Italy, which would host its first round in WorldSBK. Preparations for the track’s debut have been underway ever since, with modifications to the track and viewing facilities already completed plus a freshly unveiled logo to mark the milestone in the circuit’s history.

Shortly after the calendar was announced, it was announced that the circuit would undergo renovations to several aspects of the track including track layout enhancements, resurfacing and an expansion to the spectator facilities. The circuit now has capacity for approximately 20,000 fans, while the track works mean a new length of 3.768 kilometres for the circuit. The work started in January 2024 and was completed in March, with a particular focus on the final sector of the Italian circuit and Turns 11, 12 and 13. A new vehicle entrance has also been created to improve access to the circuit, with the new one separate from the pedestrian one.

Not only have works been completed on the circuit, but a new, fresh, look has been revealed ahead of WorldSBK’s visit in the form of a new logo. Designed to incorporate vital aspects of riding a bike to its maximum – acceleration, turning, and braking – it also features the traditional red and grey colours of the Cremona region.

Discussing the circuit changes and new logo, Cremona Circuit CEO, Alessandro Canevarolo, said: “We are excited to present this new logo to the world, which distinguishes us for our proximity to people, the territory, motorcycle, and motorsport lovers. We have chosen as inspiration one of the most iconic curves of the circuit, Turn 10, which launches us on the long straight adrenaline rush, graphically applying to the logo all the features that our motorcyclists know. The colours: red and dark grey, represent in themselves the passion and territory of Cremona. The track opened in early April, and many enthusiasts have already been able to enjoy the elevation slopes and new layout of the last stretch of the track.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com