The podium at this weekend’s Australian World Superbike Chꦦampion💫ship round could have some unexpected inclusions.

Danilo Petrucci has predicted a particula🔯rly tight season-opener at Phillip ꧋Island.

The Barn🃏i Ducati rider insis😼ts at least four manufacturers have a realistic shot at the podium.

“T♒he battle is tight. I think there are seven or eight riders who can fight for the podium,” Petrucci said.

“Nicolo Bulega has something more, at this moment. But the top 10 riders? Any of them could stand on thღe 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 test, when four of🦩 the top five were riding Ducat𓆉is.

By Tuesday afternoon’s session, there were 🐭four different manufacturers in th♍e top five.

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

“But there is still Toprak Razgatlioglu wi💛th BMW, Andrea Locatelli, and the two Bimotas can be🐻 fast.

“Maybe there are some Ducatis but you can never trust whenever To♎prak 🐠is around!”

Veteran rider Petrucci ended l🦄ast year fifth in the WSBK standings.

He expects more of the same as he gear🐻s up ꦯfor the 2025 opener.

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

“I was quite sc🌟ared beca🌺use I raced the Dakar. After a few days I had to leave for the [WSBK test], I was physically or mentally tired.

“At the end, I knew that my feeling with the bike is gooꦛd.

“We are more or less at the same level as ꦛlast year. Last year I fought for the podium.

“But there are many competitors.”