Danilo Petrucci hints at MotoAmerica move with Ducati

Ex-MotoGP and current Dakar rider Danilo Petrucci has confirmed a move to MotoAmerica with Ducati is being strongly considered for 2022. 

After ending his 10-year MotoGP career, Petrucci has thus far been one of the standouts of the Dakar despite being out of the overall running due to a terminal electrical problem on stage two.

The Italian, who is competing in not only his first ever Dakar, but first ever rally-raid event, finished stage four which is considered one of the toughest of the event in third position. 

The Dakar Rally concludes on January 14th which means a decision on his future will be made shortly, and it's a future that looks to be heading to the US.

"I made the condition that I can make the final decision during the Dakar," Petrucci said, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. 

"The team pushed me a lot because the North American market is very important for Ducati. 

"The team wants to prove that it can be competitive and that it can be among the leaders of this championship."

Should Petrucci make the switch to MotoAmerica with Ducati then it will be in the shape of a full factory set-up, the same as another former MotoGP rider Loris Baz had in 2021. 

The French rider, who has now returned to WorldSBK with BMW was unable to win the title after Jake Gagne dominated throughout, however, bringing in a rider of Petrucci’s caliber - a two-time MotoGP race winner - would be an even bigger coup for the American series. 

Petrucci could be one of two big stars to join the MotoAmerica championship in 2022 as 2013 WorldSBK champion Tom Sykes is also being linked with a switch to the US. 

But with that said, Petrucci signing for Ducati could also see Sykes less likely to join him due to a top ride being snapped up.