BMW Motorrad Motorsport has confirmed that Danilo Petrucci will race for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship. The 34-year-old Italian, widely known as “Petrux,” will step into the factory line-up aboard the BMW M 1000 RR, succeeding current World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, who is moving to MotoGP next season.
The signing marks a significant step for BMW, as Petrucci brings years of top-level racing experience and a proven track record. “We are confident that we can continue our success story in WorldSBK with Danilo,” said Sven Blusch. “His move to BMW Motorrad Motorsport is more than just a new contract – it is a recognition of his hard work throughout his career.”
A Decorated Career Across Multiple Disciplines
Petrucci’s career spans MotoGP, MotoAmerica, Dakar Rally, and WorldSBK. From 2012 to 2021, he competed full-time in MotoGP, earning multiple podiums. In the following years, he made select appearances in the series while also taking on challenges like the Dakar Rally, where he won a stage, and a season in MotoAmerica.
He entered WorldSBK in 2023 with the private Barni Spark Racing Team and has since achieved 20 podiums, including three victories. This season alone, Petrucci has already stood on the podium seven times, ranking third in the championship standings behind Razgatlioglu and Nicolò Bulega, while dominating the Independent Riders’ standings.
Petrucci’s Vision for the Future
Speaking about his new chapter, Petrucci said:
“I’m really happy to join BMW Motorrad Motorsport for the next season in World Superbikes and proud that I will ride the bike that currently bears the number one. It was my target to ride a factory bike because I really want to fight for the World Championship title. So I think that this is the step that I needed to get in the position to achieve that goal. I can’t wait to join the team and I want to thank everyone at BMW and all those people at home who support me. I also want to thank the Barni Spark Racing Team for these three years in World Superbikes and that they enabled me to get into a factory team, which has been my target.”
Petrucci’s arrival reinforces BMW’s ambitions for the 2026 WorldSBK season, as the team aims to build on recent successes and challenge for the championship.
