Danilo Petrucci hails “best day on BMW” at Dutch WorldSBK

Danilo Petrucci says he had his best day yet as a BMW rider on Friday at the Dutch WorldSBK.

Petrucci was on the World Superbike podium at Assen in 2025 with the Barni Ducati team, while BMW weren’t on the podium in either long race last year. But the Italian was the best non-Ducati rider on Friday at the 2026 edition of the Dutch Round and fourth-fastest overall.

The Italian said afterwards that he felt good on the bike from the beginning of FP1, in contrast to the comments of his teammate Miguel Oliveira, and declared it his best day with BMW so far despite a crash in the final minutes of FP1 at the final chicane.

“Finally, I found myself, since this morning, quite good on the bike, I’m starting to get used to it,” he said, adding: “I like a lot this track, last year I’ve been on the podium; I don’t know if it’s possible this year but for sure we are there. 

“As always, the key will be a good qualifying tomorrow, at least in the first two rows, to fight for the podium, can be good. 

“I’m fourth, but there are a lot of riders [who are] all together, not a big difference between one another. 

“Also, the pace needs to be really consistent because the tyre wear is quite big, so you have to manage.

“But I can be happy, this is at the moment my best day on the BMW.”

Petrucci’s strong start to the weekend leaves him optimistic about his chances for the races, and he is hoping to be involved in the podium battle.

“We are closer [to the podium] than any time,” he said.

“I really would like to fight for a top-five, then we will see because we have many riders fighting for the first positions. Maybe Bulega’s got something more, but then we are more or less always there. 

“The key will be to have a good management of the tyre through all the race, because then we see especially entry of the corner can be quite difficult with a used tyre. 

“But, in general, I found myself really good, we did a good move with my team, so I can be confident for tomorrow.”

Petrucci added that a number of riders should also be in the mix for podium places: “Always the same riders: the two Ducatis [Nicolo Bulega and Iker Lecuona], the Lowes twins [Sam Lowes and Alex Lowes], then there are also Xavi [Vierge], Baldassarri, and I think Bautista.

“A lot of riders, unfortunately! 

“For sure I forgot someone, but the Ducatis are really strong, also the Bimotas, so at the moment we have to focus to improve a bit some areas, but then I can fight for the podium.”