The podium at this weekend’s Australian World Superbike Championship roun🍃d could have some unexpected inc⛎lusions.

Danil🎶o Petrucci has predicted a particularly tight season-opener at Phillip Island.

The Barni Ducati rider insists at least four manufacturers have a rea𓂃listic shot at the podium.

“The battle is tight. I think there are ไseven or eight riders who can fight for the podium,” Petrucci ൲said.

“Nicolo Bulega has something more, at this moment. But the t🌱op 10 riders? Any of them could stand on the podium, it is still hard to decide.”

Ducati in charge at Australian WSBK?

Petrucci was third-fastest on Tuesday morning at the WSBK Phillip Island tes﷽t, when four of the top five were riding Ducatis.

By Tuesday ಞafternoon’s session, there were four different manufacturers in the top five.

“There are many Ducatis in front,” Petrucci said.

“But there is still Toprak Razgatlioglu with BMW, Andrea Locatelli, and the two Bimota✅s can be fast.

“Maybe🥃 there are some Ducatis but you can never trust whenever Toprak is aro🥀und!”

Veteran rider Petr꧅ucci ended last year fifth in the WSBK standings.

He expects more of the same as ꧋he gears up for the 2025 opener.

Petrucci said about his preseason: “It was good. I found a good feeling with the bike💝, so I am feeling positive for the weekend.

“I was quite scared because I raced the Dakar. After a few days I had to leave for the [WSBK test], I was physically or mentally tiredꦍ.

“At the end, I knew that my feelin🔯g with theܫ bike is good.

“We are more or less 🌃at th🦄e same level as last year. Last year I fought for the podium.

“But there are many competitors.”