Danilo Petrucci’s return to the Dakar Rally has came to an abrupt end. Switching to a truck rather than racing a bike, things literally went upside down when he rolled the truck in Stage #5. Italtrans Racing Team managed to repair it during the rest day and rejoined for Stage #6, but ultimately withdrew when his teammate Claudio Bellina had a drop in blood pressure due to dehydration. While Bellina eventually received treatment, the withdrawal officially ended the #608 truck’s race at halfway.

The #608 IVECO had been 11th in the Truck category through the first four stages with a best finish of sixth in Stage #1. Petrucci, who was alternating driving duties with Bellina while Marco Arnoletti served as navigator, flipped the truck just two and a half kilometers into the fifth leg. Unable to continue, they returned to the bivouac to make repairs during the rest day on Friday.

When the race resumed with Stage #6 on Saturday, the trio ran top ten for much of the first Selective Section before arriving at the transfer zone in 12th. Upon entering the second timed sector, Bellina’s blood pressure suddenly nosedived.

Bellina was airlifted to Al-Dawadmi then taken to a hospital in Riyadh. Meanwhile, Petrucci and Arnoletti drove the truck back to the end of the stage on the highway.

“I was driving and it was very hot when suddenly I could not think straight,” Bellina explained. “I am used to this kind of extreme situation, this is my 17th Dakar, but I preferred to stop and we called for help. Fortunately, it was just a drop in blood pressure from dehydration and all the tests were negative. I’m fine. The Dakar is an extreme race and this year we were not lucky.”

The retirement cuts short an otherwise promising truck debut for Petrucci, who made the switch after racing a bike and winning a stage in his Dakar debut in 2022. That was his only Dakar on two wheels as he spent the next two years focusing on competing in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship and Superbike World Championship.

A MotoGP rider for a decade, Petrucci is the first person from the series to win a Dakar stage after claiming Stage #5 of the 2022 race. Italtrans Racing is also primarily a bike racing outfit, fielding entries in the Moto2 World Championship.

“Health comes first and so, although I’m sorry not to finish the race, I’m glad Claudio is okay,” Petrucci commented. It was a wonderful experience with extraordinary people. This Dakar has given me a lot and I hope to come back next year with Italtrans Racing Team. I wish the best of luck to Claudio.

“Now a few days of rest and then I will leave for Spain for Superbike testing.”

Featured image credit: Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI