Danilo Petrucci’s first World Superbike victory made him the first rider to win a MotoGP race, a MotoAmerica race, a Dakar stage, and a WorldSBK s𓄧tage, but the journey to it was interrupted by a major crash.

𝓡Petrucci’s 2024 season was significantly derailed when he crashed in March whi൩le training ahead of the Dutch Round.

“I was just afraid t꧙o die,” Petrucci told ﷽WorldSBK.com about his crash, following his historic win in Race 1 at Cremona.

“I closed my eyes until we got to the ambulance and from that moment on, I said that this was my second chance and I started to be happy for what I have and be lucky and appreciate it instea♒d of what I missed.

“I thought about the past and thought that maybe I could have done more on the sporting side, but, actually, I then thought after that Iꦿ can still achieve great things.

“My resul▨ts started to climb but it’s all my second chan✤ce.”

Speaking about the race itself, Petrucci said: “It’s unbeliಌevable! It’s a great feeling because it was really unexpe✅cted after yesterday’s penalty (Petrucci was given a three-place grid penalty after he impeded Remy Gardner in FP2).

“I thought✤ it could be difficult to jump on the podium but after a few laps, I understood t♐hat I had good pace.

“I hit the front but expected a better pace although I was leadi🐲ng. With five to go, the red flag came, and I started to think about two-thirds race distance. I was doing the maths, got to the pit box and then realise𝔉d that I had won!

“I c🐼ouldn’t believe it but when I too✱k the helmet off, I could say that I won in MotoGP, Dakar and now back to road racing and winning in World Superbike.

“It’s something so unexpecte🐈d; 🐻I have ticked all the boxes!

“When I hit the f♑ront, it was like I’d already seen this scene and꧑ I could win my first race like I did in Italy in MotoGP.

“However, this was just lap three or four. The race waꦓs really, really long and I was counting laps fr🐠om 15 to go.

“It’s incredible that I achieved my first win in Italy again in front of the crowd, it’s something unbelievable and I a🅺ppreciate 😼everyone who joined us today.”