Danilo Petrucci Predicts Surprising Podium Contenders at Australian WorldSBK
BMW WorldSBK rider Danilo Petrucci has made a bold prediction, suggesting that two unexpected riders from a surprise manufacturer could challenge for the podium at the upcoming Australian World Superbike round. While Ducati and Nicolo Bulega are expected to dominate, Petrucci believes there are still two spots up for grabs.
Bulega, who topped all four sessions during the two-day test and has a strong record at Phillip Island, is a strong favorite. However, Petrucci highlights the performance of Sam Lowes on the Marc VDS Ducati, noting that he was close to Bulega during the test. Despite this, Lowes' advantage over the rest of the field is less pronounced, and speed traps can be taken with a grain of salt due to the potential for tow-related speed boosts.
The Ducati dominance is further emphasized by the presence of four Ducati riders in the top-four positions, excluding the factory bike of Iker Lecuona and two-time champion Alvaro Bautista. However, Petrucci's attention turns to the Bimota KB998s of Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes, who finished in fifth and sixth places.
What surprises Petrucci is the speed and straight-line performance of these Italian bikes, powered by Kawasaki engines. Alex Lowes, in particular, impressed with the seventh-best speed in the speed trap on Tuesday, matching Bulega's time. Petrucci acknowledges Bulega's strong performance but emphasizes the potential of the Bimotas, stating, 'Let's say Bulega is doing another job, but it was not a surprise because also last year he was doing a great job.'
'I've been quite surprised about the two Bimotas, really fast,' Petrucci continued. 'I was able to follow them for a few laps – both Axel [Bassani] and Alex [Lowes] – and they are really fast, and compared to last season they are even fast on the straights. So, I think they are quite good contenders for the podium.'
Petrucci also praised the performance of his compatriots, Baldassarri and Montella, who finished inside the top-four. He expressed satisfaction with Montella's consistent performance, wishing him the best for the rest of the season.
