Danilo Petrucci’s future in the World Superbike Championship has been thrown into doubt after the Italian confirmed he will not remain a BMW factory rider in 2027.
Petrucci joined BMW for the 2026 season after establishing himself as a successful WorldSBK rider with Barni Ducati. He entered the campaign as a three-time race winner, having famously claimed a hat-trick at Cremona in 2024.
However, his first season with BMW’s M1000 RR has proved difficult. His best dry-weather result so far has been seventh, achieved in Race 2 at Portimao and the Superpole Race at Assen.
His campaign was also interrupted by injury. Petrucci was hurt during the Czech round in May and missed the following two rounds before returning at Donington Park. He finished 15th in both feature races at the British venue.
Questions over his future had already emerged before Donington, with BMW deciding not to activate its option to retain him for another season.
Source: Motorsport Week
BMW has since confirmed Miguel Oliveira for 2027, but Petrucci will not be part of the factory line-up. The Italian said the decision was made mutually after both sides concluded that continuing in the same way was not the right option.
"We decided, both me and BMW, to not continue in WorldSBK next year," Petrucci said.
He added that the relationship between the two sides could continue in another role or championship, although no decision has been made yet.
"We would both like to continue together in maybe some other position or championships, but it’s still too early to know."
Petrucci also made it clear that he is not actively exploring alternatives elsewhere in WorldSBK. Instead, he wants to understand BMW’s plans before deciding on his next move.
"I want to give the priority to BMW because they helped me so much and I want to understand what their programme is," he said.
The situation leaves the 35-year-old's full-time racing future uncertain. Petrucci was in much stronger form last season, fighting for third place in the WorldSBK championship with Ducati, but his difficult 2026 campaign has changed the picture considerably.
Competition for factory seats is also becoming increasingly intense. Riders coming out of MotoGP are looking for opportunities in WorldSBK, with Brad Binder among those linked with BMW.
For now, Petrucci's immediate future remains unresolved. He has not ruled out continuing with BMW in another capacity, but whether he will return to the WorldSBK grid as a full-time rider in 2027 is becoming an increasingly open question.
