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Sixth, sixth, sixth. A very consistent season start for Danilo Petrucci, who has completed all three races run so far with the same result. Despite this consistency, the Italian expected something more.
“A pity about the last race, I was losing a second a lap to the leader - begins the Ducati rider – sixth place is positive, though I knew we'd struggle right from the outset. In Qatar and Argentina, I was conditioned by the fact I started too far from the front, and so wasted too much energy making up lost ground. In Texas, I preferred to keep calm but perhaps I overdid that, Austin was the first weekend in which I struggled.”
It's not time for Danilo to turn the page.
“Now we come to Jerez, a track where I set the fastest time in testing. There are various aspects to consider, like the track surface for example. The weather will be warmer than it was in November too, but inside my goal is always to try and fight for the podium, running a good race. I know it won't be easy of course. Last year, Andrea and Jorge were running a great race before crashing, while I battled it out with Rossi and Iannone”.
Petrucci intends to raise the bar.
“The only problem is that, this season, everyone's expectation of me are much higher. In 2018, my season was as good as over after the first three races. Now I'm faster, compared to last year, but not fast enough. I just need to keep calm”.
The Ducati rider sums up the first three rounds.
“In Argentina I have various difficulties in making up places. While lying fourth behind Dovi and Rossi, I wanted to try and stick with them but Morbidelli and Vinales caused me to sacrifice the tyre as I fought with them, and then I had nothing left come the final laps. Then in Qatar I wasted time”.
Things were different in Texas though.
“Unfortunately the bike wasn't stable at Austin with all the bumps and so I had a different level of confidence which meant my rhythm varied from lap to lap. In seeking the limit I was worried about making mistakes that would compromise my race”.
The Italian wants to send a clear message ahead of the Spanish GP.
“I'm very pleased to get going in Europe and hope to find the same feeling I had during testing. I want to do better than I did in the last race, well aware of the playing field. We've seen a competitive Rins who's won his first race, a strong Rossi, then I prefer not to talk about Marquez, there's no point. And then there's Andrea, who comes here as leader”.
