Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC rider Danilo Petrucci has been issued two rider penalty points and a three-position grid penalty in his next race for his actions at the end of MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Qualifying One (Q1) Friday afternoon at Ridge Motorsports Park.
It was a troubled day for the former MotoGP race winner. At the end of Free Practice One on Friday morning, his Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike went up in a cloud of smoke and he pulled off the track.
When it came time for Qualifying One, Petrucci didn’t immediately go out on track as his crew was apparently still finishing repairs or possibly a motor swap in his bike and then he had an issue with his clutch on pit lane.
Petrucci finally got out on track with just under 18 minutes remaining in the 40-minute Q1 session.
Once out on track, Petrucci and Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz ended up running together trying to follow each other.
After the checkered flag ended the session, Scholtz and Max Flinders stopped side-by-side in the designated Practice Start area of the track to do practice starts, but before they could Petrucci rode into the narrow space between the two riders, making hard contact with both and bending Flinders’ right handlebar.
Petrucci then turned and gave Scholtz the middle finger while looking back at him.
This was all shown live on the MotoAmerica Live+ streaming service followed by several replays from multiple angles.
Scholtz responded by raising his hands as if to ask, “What?”
“In the qualifying session, he was trying to follow me and I was trying to follow him, nothing out of the ordinary,” Scholtz told Roadracingworld.com. “And then on the cool-down lap I just passed him normally, I went to do a practice start, and then he just came through and elbowed me and Max Flinders.
“Then he accused me of clipping his handlebar on the cool-down lap, but unfortunately that’s not true. We’ve got video footage [showing] I wasn’t even remotely close to him.
“I know emotions are running high. It’s just one of those things. I know he is a good guy. We’re obviously racing for the Championship, and people just get caught up.”
MotoAmerica Race Direction spoke to both riders after the incident, reviewed video from the session, and then penalized Petrucci. In short, MotoAmerica ruled that Petrucci was not riding in a “responsible manner.” See MotoAmerica’s full Notice of Sanction below.
Petrucci did not respond to an attempt by Roadracingworld.com to contact him prior to post time.
If Petrucci accumulates four rider penalty points within a 365-day period he will be forced to start his next race from the back of the grid.
