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Dakar Rally debutant Danillo Petrucci was on his bike during shakedown when he received a positive COVID-19 test.
As it turned out, the result was a false positive, and the Italian was later given clearance to contest the endurance rally following a second test.
Petrucci this year makes the unheralded switch from MotoGP to the Dakar Rally, continuing his association with KTM.
It’s not been a trouble-free build-up to the event, however. Petrucci crashed in the weeks leading up to his debut, injuring his ankle in the process.
“After a really difficult couple of days I am finally allowed to race,” said the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing rider.
“I was on my bike at the shakedown when I received the message that my COVID test had come back positive.
“Thankfully, a blood test returned a negative result, and I was cleared to compete.
“I still need to take a lot of care, especially with my ankle, but I’m really looking forward to the race now.
“I want to say a big thank you to all the team for their help over the past week, too.”
Prologue at the Dakar Rally gets underway later today.
