Danilo Petrucci re-joins Dakar after technical issue

Double MotoGP race winner Danilo Petrucci's dream of a top finish on his Dakar debut ended with a technical issue on Monday's second stage.

It was an especially disappointing blow for the Italian given he had been setting a very competitive pace up until that point, which followed a solid 13th on Sunday's first proper stage (1B) after the short (1A) Prologue on January 1.

“It was exciting until the technical issue because I was fighting for the top five - I think I was in third position at that moment - and I was having a lot of fun because the route was very fast!" Petrucci posted on social media after the Stage 2 eletricial issue on his 450cc KTM.

"I had caught two of the riders in front of me, pushing for 20-30 km on full throttle and it was very cool to go up to 150km/h on flat ground.

"I will try to restart tomorrow [Tuesday] even if I know I will not be competing for the final standings.”

The good news is that Petrucci, competing under the same Tech3 KTM Factory Racing banner with which he spent the 2021 MotoGP campaign, has been confirmed as eligible to re-join today's action and will now aim to build up valuable Dakar experience and gauge his speed for the future.

"After the problem yesterday, I am able to rejoin the race," Petrucci said. "Really, really happy because it's just the beginning. Today is another day. I want to enjoy more than yesterday."

The 44th edition of the legendary Dakar Rally, being held in Saudi Arabia this year, ends on January 14.

After the Dakar is complete, Petrucci is tipped to race for Ducati - the manufacturer with which he took his two MotoGP wins - in this year's MotoAmerica Superbike championship.