Petrucci: Plan A to remain in MotoGP - keen on Aprilia, KTM

Having lost his Factory Ducati seat to Jack Miller for 2021, 'Plan A' for Danilo Petrucci is to remain in MotoGP next season, rather than move to World Superbike.

And his preferred options for doing so would be to join either Aprilia or KTM.

Aprilia has made several attempts to sign Petrucci in the past, only for the Italian to remain with Ducati, but a 2021 opening will emerge if countryman Andrea Iannone is unable to overturn his 18-month doping ban.

"Plan A is to remain in MotoGP," Petrucci told SkySport.it. "For many years we have tried to find an agreement with Aprilia but the choice of continuity [with Ducati] prevailed, which starting from the bottom led me to the Official team.

"There has been a lot of interest in [Aprilia's] new bike. But they too are experiencing a very delicate situation with riders.

"Aleix [Espargaro] deserves the renewal and there is the Iannone question, which nobody knows how it will end. I respect Andrea very much, so I would be sorry if his place is freed up because of a sentence."

But an unexpected KTM opportunity has also materialised, following the news that Pol Espargaro is on the verge of a switch to Repsol Honda.

"The news about Pol Espargaro in Honda opens up a different scenario," Petrucci confirmed.

"I would like to go to Aprilia [or] KTM, because they are also on a growing trend. In fact, Pol Espargaro's decision to leave is a little surprising, since he was the cornerstone of the project.

"But they are two brands that could take advantage of my experience, since I have been in MotoGP for a few years. And I'd like to join a growing project.

"KTM managed to take a podium, Aprilia still hasn't, but they are two brands that want to get to the top and I would like to race with one of the two."

The Mugello winner believes his own future won't be settled until Andrea Dovizioso, his current Ducati team-mate, and Valentino Rossi, currently weighing up a move to Petronas Yamaha, have announced their plans.

"It is a chessboard, which passes first through Dovi," Petrucci said. "And then it also depends on what Valentino will do.

"Right now there are riders who have priority. We will first have to fix those, the most valuable pieces, I come a little later."

Meanwhile, Petrucci is now approaching the 2020 season with a 'nothing to lose' attitude.

"It was bad to lose a place that I gained through so much effort because the races didn't take place this year," he said. "From what I've been told the drop I had in the second half of last season influenced [Ducati's] decision.

"I am very sorry. But I still have a year where I can race and feel personally accomplished on a competitive bike. I'm serene because from a certain point of view I can only gain, in the sense that to date I don't have a bike for next year, so I have nothing to lose."

Petrucci also expressed sympathy for rookie Alex Marquez, should the rumours prove correct that he has lost his Repsol Honda seat to Pol Espargaro before a wheel has been turned during a 2020 race weekend.

"The decision is very surprising, even if it is not yet official. Alex was not given a great opportunity; he didn't even have a race with this bike. I don't know what the reasons are," Petrucci said.

"Perhaps, it is the desire not to compare him immediately with his brother and allow him to gain some experience in MotoGP. Maybe he will be brought into the satellite team to make his experience. I think this is the explanation of Honda's choice.

"Or it could be because Pol and Marc Marquez have been fighting together since they were kids. Maybe Honda wants to make a team of the highest level in 2021."