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There's something of derby going on within team Pramac between Petrucci and Redding. The prize available is a precious one, a Desmosedici GP17 that is the same as the bike ridden by factory riders Lorenzo and Dovizioso next season.
Ducati has decided to arrange for a third bike, and supply it to team Pramac. “We think it will useful in order to speed up development and Campinoti is in agreement with this decision”, explains Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati's sporting director.
With only one bike available and two riders in contention, this particular hot potato has been passed to team manager Francesco Guidotti.
“We couldn't turn down this kind of opportunity - he explains - though it's created a problem because now we have to decide who to give it to".
They can't exactly split the bike in two, so they've decided to hold an internal championship. Whoever scores most points between Brno and Valencia (eliminating the worst result) will obtain the GP17.
“In Austria we held a meeting with Ducati management, the two riders and their managers and we came to this agreement - explains Guidotti - We see it as the fairest solution, because at the start of the championship both had problems; Danilo missed 4 races due to injury and Scott suffered 3 technical breakdowns”.
So it's heads down and may the best man win.
“We've tried to be as transparent as possible, even if they didn't agree at first. Both think they deserve it of course - continues the team manager - In all honesty, we think the same, but we can't make them both happy. At the end of the day, the man who finishes second won't lose out because he will still have that which is cited in his contract”.
The risk is that this battle might threaten the good atmosphere in the garage.
“Danilo and Scott really respect each other, both on track and off, and there's no jealousy - underlines Guidotti - This fight should be viewed as an opportunity and, logically, correctness is something that will be taken into consideration, in addition to the results”.
For information, Petrucci is leading with 21 points to Redding's 2.
How did Danilo react?
“This challenge puts the pressure on, though a rider's aim is always to finish ahead of his team-mate. That's fine, but if I was fighting for the title it would be more difficult - he comments - Of course, I want that bike, but there are still many races to go and anything can happen. It's better to not think about it”.
