Prometeon is preparing for the 2025 Dakar Rally
The Italtrans team and Prometeon Tyre Group (PTG) have announced that they will continue their successful partnership during the 2025 Dakar Rally, and Danilo Petrucci will once again participate in the race, but this time not on a motorcycle, but on a truck.
Petrucci, born in Terni, Italy in 1990, is considered the only rider to have won at least one stage in MotoGP, MotoAmerica, the Superbike World Championship, and the Dakar. In 2025, he will participate in the famous rally for the second time, having previously participated in the Dakar in 2022 and won one of the stages.
In next year's rally, Petrucci's crew will also include lead driver Claudio Bellina and navigator Marco Arnolotti, while PTG will provide tires specifically designed for use on heavy trucks in off-road racing.
"I'm really happy to join Italtrans and Claudio Bellina," Petrucci noted. "I'm also very grateful to Prometeon for helping to create this unique opportunity for me. The Dakar is an amazing race, and I'm glad I can participate in it again. I'll have to learn a lot, and I'll do my best to achieve good results."
Claudio Bellina added that "we're preparing to experience new emotions in 2025". "The last race was great, as we had a new truck," he said. "The Dakar is a tough test and clearly not a walk in the park, but we had a lot of fun and also showed a good result, almost making it into the top five [...] I want to thank all our sponsors, especially Prometeon and Bosch, for their support."
For the 2025 race, PTG will bring the Prometeon S02 Rally tires, which are part of the new Serie 02 line and feature the same technology package as civilian tires, but have been modified specifically for rally competitions. For example, the construction has been modified to provide structural integrity in the most extreme off-road conditions, and compared to the tires used by Italtrans in the previous race, the sidewalls have been additionally reinforced, increasing resistance to damage from impact loads, contact with sharp rocks, and use on highly abrasive surfaces typical of rallies.
The tread pattern of the S02 Rally was designed with the changing and unpredictable conditions of rally racing in mind and, according to the manufacturer, provides exceptional grip on gravel, mud, and asphalt. Additionally, the tread compound is designed to maximize traction in a wide range of temperatures and road conditions, and the reinforced construction ensures optimal stability at high speeds and increases tire durability on jumps and uneven surfaces. Finally, the bead area structure has also been reinforced to withstand extreme lateral forces and high loads during rapid acceleration. This ensures that the tires are reliably held on the rim, reducing the risk of them slipping off during aggressive maneuvering.
"We're glad to have invited Danilo Petrucci to this new adventure," said Roberto Riga, CEO of PTG. "Together with Claudio Bellina and Marco Arnolotti, they form a great team, combining talent and competence - the necessary qualities for such complex races as the Dakar, where you always have to expect the unexpected. In such competitions, success requires efficiency, team spirit, and technological innovation, and all these values we fully share and support."
PTG adds that their partnership with Italtrans is aimed at improving tire performance and testing them in the most challenging conditions. The 2025 Dakar Rally will start on January 3 in Bisha, Saudi Arabia.
Photo: Pneusnews.it.