MotoGP | GP Valencia Race: Petrucci, “I have no regrets, I'm happy with what I did”

MotoGP 2021 GP Valencia KTM Tech3 Factory Racing – An extremely emotional Danilo Petrucci raced the last race of his ten-year career in MotoGP today in Valencia.

The rider from Terni of Team KTM Tech 3, who will race the next Dakar, cried on the starting grid and then once on the track he just tried to finish the race, given that in the last two he had been innocently hit and made to fall into the early stages of the race.

Here's what "Petrux" said, who in tears also remembered his Ducati press officer Luca Semprini, who passed away too soon.

Statements Danilo Petrucci GP Valencia Race

"I have no regrets. It's easy to look back and say something could have been better. I've made some mistakes in the past. In 2016 I could have won in Germany or in Assen, perhaps in 2019 I was very fast but I suffered a lot being the second driver. Even when I was fast I wasn't always taken into consideration and I suffered this and thought about myself. I tried to show who I was but I made several mistakes and lost positions in the Championship. But I'm happy with what I did and I think there will never be another rider of my size in MotoGP. The engineers were scared when they knew my weight, this complicated things.”

Statements Danilo Petrucci Grid meeting with Valentino Rossi Valencia GP Race

“Vale asked me at the beginning if I ran with a tie. Luckily she stopped me because I wanted to run even with my goggles covering my tears. Then I told him I couldn't stop crying and that we were off to a terrible start today.”

Statements Danilo Petrucci Transmitted Emotions and Memory Luca Semprini GP Valencia Race

“Exciting people like an artist does, be it a singer, a painter, is the most beautiful thing you can experience. Seeing people excited is something that gives you back all the sacrifices you have made. For many years, every time I entered the track and greeted the people present in the stands and on the hills, seeing them respond was truly emotional. Seeing the people close to you more excited than you is beautiful. I am a transparent person, both when I am angry and when I am happy, I express all my emotions. Luca (Semprini, ed.) was a companion, unfortunately for only half a year (here Danilo cries, ed.). I was sad not to be able to tell him one last time that I loved him. From that day on he taught me to be good to people and it's the best thing he taught me."

Danilo Petrucci statements on Valentino Rossi and the Dakar GP Valencia Race

“With Valentino (Rossi) I shared the last 10 years of my and his career. In MotoGP we fought for all places, from first, up to 16th, 17th as we did this year. One day we could go and do the Dakar together in the car, he drives and I act as his navigator, now I'll gain experience and he goes fast in the car. It would be crazy cool to run the Dakar together and maybe win it. Today KTM gave me a nice surprise, in the pits there was also the bike with which I will race the Dakar (KTM 450 Rally). I will never stop thanking KTM, they loved me very much, I had always wanted to race with them, having done the MotoGP and doing the Dakar with this company is a great pride. Although the results this year were below my and their expectations, they saw the commitment I have always put in. Now another challenge awaits me and I can't wait to start it.”