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The Brno weekend is yet to begin, but Danilo Petrucci is aware that he'll be playing catch-up, because the incident with Laverty has cost the Pramac rider a three place grid penalty at the upcoming race. But he's not about to throw in the towel and is ready to make up for the Red Bull Ring race, while also thinking about the future.
In Austria things didn't go to plan.
“Our bike was neither one thing nor another, and this meant we struggled. Luckily, we scored some points, a pity about the penalty but I want to do well, starting with qualifying. Last week I made some mistakes, paying for them and getting stressed, which hadn't happened for a long time. The fact that I had similar pace to Scott was unimportant, because if you run off track 5-6 times, this conditions your performance”.
Now you have a chance to make up for that.
“At Brno I want to stay focused, because from now on results count for next year and I want to convince people to give me the factory bike for 2017”.
What do you mean by factory bike?
“The same bike as Lorenzo and Dovizioso as of next year. I think only one is available, it will depend on results, but this doesn't change what I have to do."
Are you confident?
“Austria was the only race in which Scott Redding closed qualifying and the race ahead of me. I hope that my results from previous years, which were even better than those of Iannone, are also taken into consideration, as I strive to do even more”.
What changes in terms of the engine?
“The factory Ducati can count on new engines, while ours are restored, but already used. The difference is in the tenths during the race, which become clear at the end. From a technical point of view, I wouldn't know what changes, but you just have to see the speed to know that they are faster. Of course I congratulate Gigi for the work done, but our bike is not at the level of the factory bike”.
Will the championship standings be the only thing taken into consideration?
“This is my feeling, I think that the standings are the only criteria”.
Next year Lorenzo comes on board. You don't think his arrival will be another obstacle?
“Ducati will clearly be busy next year. They will definitely want to try and have a bike with a powerful engine, focusing on a chassis to suit Lorenzo, the balance too. I think that the aim next year is to win the championship with Jorge, after having won its first race in 2016. I hoped it would be me, either at Assen or Sachsenring, but I didn't make it. Signing Lorenzo is definitely a good choice in order to aim for the title”.
