You are here

MotoGP, Petrucci: I would like to help Dovizioso at Sepang

"It's a track that suits the Ducati well though I really suffer with the heat. My worry? The track doesn't dry, I noticed this in the F1 race"

MotoGP: Petrucci: I would like to help Dovizioso at Sepang

Share


There's no getting around it, the Phillip Island race was a real disaster for Danilo Petrucci. Penultimate across the line at the end of what was a very tough weekend. But one of the Italian's strengths is his ability to react to difficult situations with a smile and he arrives in Malaysia with precisely this attitude.

I've realised that there is no limit to how bad things can be in MotoGP, I learned this when riding for Ioda - he jokes - I'm happy to get straight back on the bike, I am more motivated than usual. I view Phillip Island as just one bad episode and can't wait to prove that I haven't forgotten how to ride”.

Before talking about Sepang, we need to understand what happened in Australia.

We haven't understood it fully - he admits - I wasn't really fast over the whole weekend, particularly in the race. I used the medium rear tyre, like Valentino e Dovi. Andrea struggled too, perhaps I made the wrong choice, and the set-up wasn't perfect either”.

Now he needs to look ahead, also with a degree of team spirit, because Dovizioso could do with some help in taking points from Marc if he wants to continue fighting for the title.

I would like to be one of the guys who can help Andrea - he confirms - This year, I've usually made a good race, followed by a bad one, though I don't really know why. Seeing as the last one was particularly bad, I should be strong this time out, then in Valencia I guess I can stay home” he laughs.

Sepang is a track that suits the Ducati though.

There is some hard braking, where we are strong, and Dovi won last year in the wet while I finished 6th in 2015 in the dry - he recalls - It's a complicated track but I've always got on well although the heat is a challenge for me. Will I use the new fairing? We still have to decide, but it looks like the pros outweigh the cons here”.

There is one aspect that worries him, if it happens to rain.

I watched the Formula 1 race and certain points of the track don't dry out, like last year. For the cars it's not a problem but it's different for us. We have to wait and see, we've also seen this year that it's pointless to make any predictions”.

Translated by Heather Watson
__

Related articles