Well ahead of Andrea Iannone and GoEleven: Danilo Petrucci and the Barni team secure the Independent title in the Superbike World Championship at Estoril ahead of time.
The Barni team has secured the title in the Independent standings with Danilo Petrucci ahead of time. At the penultimate WSBK event of the current season at Estoril, Petrucci secured the title ahead of schedule, although the weekend did not go entirely according to plan. The 2024 season was an emotional rollercoaster for Petrucci, as the Italian was seriously injured in the spring and out for many weeks.
But in the second half of the season, Petrucci developed into a regular contender for podium finishes. So far, he has made it onto the podium ten times. The clear highlight of the season was the triple at his home race in Cremona. But the Barni team already celebrated in April when substitute driver Nicholas Spinelli was declared the winner in a chaotic Saturday race at Assen.
For the second time in its history, Barni has won the Independent title, the first time being in 2018 with Xavi Fores. In the current season, only BMW spearhead Toprak Razgatlioglu and the Ducati factory duo of Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista have scored more points than Petrucci.
WSBK season 2024 “a rollercoaster of emotions” for Petrucci
“In any case, I am very happy with the milestones we have achieved together with the team,” Petrucci is pleased with this year’s successes. “The season was a rollercoaster of emotions, but since my accident, I have come to appreciate even more what I have achieved in my career and what I have.”
“The team has always supported me, and today we celebrate together. Now we can go to Jerez without pressure to end the season in style and hopefully secure fourth place in the championship,” Petrucci looks ahead to the season finale.
In the championship, he is only six points ahead of Kawasaki factory rider Alex Lowes in fourth place. The top three are now out of reach. For Petrucci and Lowes, it is now a matter of fourth and fifth place.
Difficult weekend in Estoril: crash on Saturday and P7 on Sunday
Both Petrucci and Lowes had a rather difficult weekend in Estoril. The eleventh WSBK event of the current season started promisingly for Petrucci. “On Friday we got off to a very good start and were fighting for pole position on Saturday, but from that moment on I had major problems accelerating out of corners,” he complains.
“In the first race, I crashed while trying to stay with the leading group, and in the second race, we didn’t have enough to do better,” explains Petrucci, who finished seventh on Sunday. He finished the sprint in P5. ‘It was one of the toughest weekends of the season,’ the former MotoGP factory rider concluded.
Barni team principal Marco Barnabo was relieved when it was confirmed on Sunday that his team had secured the Independent title for the second time: “I’m happy to have brought home a title that we have been missing since 2018. It has been a difficult few seasons, but we have continued to work with the same commitment as always, and for that I would like to thank all the people and sponsors who have remained loyal to us.”
“This year they are seeing the results they deserve. Starting with the drivers, Danilo and also Nicholas, who earned us points for the team championship. The crew that works at the track and those who stay at home, but above all my family, who are fully involved in this adventure,” Barnabo thanks his team.
