MotoAmerica, Road America J1: Difficult start for Danilo Petrucci…

Since the last race of the MotoAmerica Superbike championship dates back some time, a little reminder of the facts is probably not superfluous…

In a certain way, Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) discovered the category gently this year, benefiting in Austin from both a circuit to MotoGP standards and an appropriate organization. It was after that things got a little complicated for the Ducati rider who had to pay the price for the exoticism of motorcycle racing in the USA. Hence some rants from the usually quite placid transalpine driver…

In summary, after three consecutive victories and, whether for mechanical reasons or not, the Italian driver of the had to bow three times to the inevitable Jake Gagne (Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha), author of 17 victories out of 20 races last year.

When arriving on the verdant and sparse Road America circuit, located north of Milwaukee in Wisconsin, the situation is relatively balanced between the two men who have each climbed to the top step of the podium three times.

But for now it’s always Danilo Petrucci who leads the championship four small points ahead of the regular South African Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha Westby Racing), Jake Gagne having experienced serious mechanical problems at Road Atlanta. The Californian therefore occupies only the third position in the general classification with 13 points behind.

Suffice to say that nothing is done when there are 7 meetings and therefore 14 races left, especially since the transalpine must each time learn the circuit, which he did during free practice at Road America in s ‘y ranking 7th at 2.730 seconds behind Jake Gagne. It is recalled that the Italian suffered from a fracture of the fibula (the non-weight-bearing bone) in the lower right leg since his fall at very high speed after the finish line of the second race at VIRginia International Raceway…