BREAKING: Petrucci gets dream chance, replaces Lorenzo at Factory Ducati

Popular Italian Danilo Petrucci will replace Jorge Lorenzo at the Factory Ducati squad in 2019 and 2020, signing fresh two year deal that will see the ex-European Superstock 1000 runner-up alongside last year’s MotoGP runner-up, Andrea Dovizioso.

Petrux made it no secret that he wanted to ride in the Factory Ducati line-up, citing that he would be leaving Pramac Racing regardless. However, the charismatic 27-year-old has remained with the Italian manufacturer to form an all Italian line-up for the Bologna outfit

“It goes without saying that for me, being part of the factory team is a dream come true,” said Petrucci. “It’s a great honour to become an official rider for the Ducati Team, especially for someone like me who started in Ducati as a production motorcycle test rider.

“First of all I would like to thank Paolo Campinoti and Francesco Guidotti, who gave me the chance four years ago to race on a Ducati for the Pramac Racing Team. Without them all this would not have been possible. I also want to thank the managers of Ducati and Ducati Corse – Claudio Domenicali, Gigi Dall’Igna and Paolo Ciabatti – who appreciated me first as a person and then as a rider and I really can’t wait to start this new adventure in the factory team. Now all I want to do is to finish the year in the top five in the standings and then start the new season with the Ducati Team.”

Petrucci is looking for his fourth consecutive top ten finish at Catalunya, the first time since 2015 that he will have achieved this. Petrucci will also look to give Pramac Racing their first Grand Prix win, having finished 2nd for the team a total of four times – most recently at Le Mans this season.