Danilo Petrucci has said he “can’t beat a weekend” like his Cremona WorldSBK weekend after producing a hat trick of wins at his home race.
The Italian rider earned his first victory in the Superbike championship in a red-flagged Race 1, and was able to keep the momentum with sublime showings in the Superpole Race and Race 2 on the Sunday.
Petrucci’s wins at Cremona meant that he became the first rider ever to win races in WorldSBK, MotoGP, MotoAmerica, and a stage at the Dakar Rally, and the Italian rider said afterwards that this weekend would be hard to top.
“It was one of the best weekends in my career!” said Petrucci to WorldSBK.com.
“After the first victory yesterday, I was full of emotion. I didn’t expect to win the Superpole Race and Race 2.
“I was a little bit worried. I had a lot of opponents, especially Alvaro [Bautista]; I knew he would be fast at the end of the race.
“I was able to create a gap and he closed that gap a few tenths per lap.
“It’s something really special. A new track, a new venue, a lot of people… I think everyone in Italy deserves this kind of day today!”
Petrucci becomes first independent rider to complete WorldSBK hat trick
Petrucci’s treble also means he becomes only the fourth rider to take a hat trick of wins in the three-race format’s history – after the championship’s main headliners Jonathan Rea, Alvaro Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu.
In doing so, the Barni Spark Ducati rider also became the first independent rider to achieve this feat.
“They told me not long ago about this achievement.” Petrucci said.
“It’s something that makes me proud.
“Yesterday, I was the first rider to win a race in so many categories, off-road and on-road, and today the first Independent rider to have three wins.
“We can improve our Championship position, but we can’t beat a weekend like that.”
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