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MotoGP, Petrucci: Staying with Ducati Pramac a choice of the heart

Danilo on the front row again: "Next year we will be contenders for something important. Now I believe more in myself and staying out front is fun"

MotoGP: Petrucci: Staying with Ducati Pramac a choice of the heart

Danilo Petrucci gave himself a double gift at the Sachsenring: the first was his third consecutive front row, “The fourth without the penalty at Mugello” he points out, and the second is the renewal for another year with Pramac and Ducati.

I was not under any pressure to sign. I knew that I would have found a ride somewhere - he jokes - It was a decision of the heart. It would have been hard for me to change manufacturers right now. The deciding factors were technical and personal.

Not the wallet, because Aprilia had offered him more.

I was not concerned only with money, but I thank Aprilia for their interest and maybe we will do something together in the future. Right now I believe in my team and in 2018 I think that we will be able to be contenders for something important.

In the meantime, in recent races he has often been the best Ducati rider. It was one of his goals, so what is the next one?

Being the first in MotoGP, more or less - he laughs - I would like to win, but as I said, I won’t stick my head in the ground if it doesn’t happen. The important thing is being here.

That is, among the best, like in qualifying with his second place.

Yeah, I always take it … philosophically - another laugh - Going through Q1 helped me in the end because I had found my pace in the wet, although I had to show my claws to go through. At the beginning of the session I even gave Marquez a tow, but then he improved even more. I also had a go, but I had stressed the tyre too much already and had no more traction.

At this point one might think that Petrucci would be doing a rain dance for tomorrow, but that is not the case.

I know I am more competitive in the wet, but I prefer a dry race where I can learn - he confesses - Anyway, you never know what might happen. Even at Mugello and Barcelona I did not think I would do well, but instead I did. At the end of the day, I am more surprised than you are.

In truth, Danilo is a certainty. He is not just a flash of lightning, but a consistent light.

The difference is that now I believe more. I have fun and I discovered that I like staying out front.”

In the case of a flag-to-flag race, his name seems to be the one to bet on.

Without a doubt, I am the one who has the least to lose in the championship, but you also have to finish the races - he reflects - Of course, if I find myself in a position to be able to finish on the podium, I would take a few risks.

Anything can happen and nothing is written in stone this season. No one can seem to find an explanation for the highs and lows of so many riders.

In Safety Commission we talked about the tyres - he explains - At Assen, Pedrosa seemed like a different person in the wet and here he was fast, whereas the opposite happened to Dovizioso. I think it is a question of feeling. I have a motocross background, so maybe that helps me in these conditions.

Translated by Jonathan Blosser

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