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MotoGP, Petrucci: “Luca's passing teaches us what's important in life”

Danilo on the death of Luca Semprini: “I almost didn't want to race. What's happened teaches us how wrong it is to keep things inside and not have the courage to speak up”

MotoGP: Petrucci: “Luca's passing teaches us what's important in life”

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There is a surreal air at Brno, the bikes playing almost second fiddle, of only marginal importance. It barely seems to matter whether Quartararo has set the quickest time or whether Rossi broke his engine. The same goes for the performance of the new GP19 fairing. Yes, because the passing of Luca Semprini has shaken the paddock, and particularly the Ducati team.

A terrible loss for the Borgo Panigale team, Semprini having worked as press officer to Danilo Petrucci. The Italian rider doesn't even want to talk about the GP19 and its performance, his mind focused only on his friend, who is unfortunately no longer with us. 

“The air was very heavy yesterday. I don't know if this might condition my riding, I don't think so. A bolt out of the blue, also because Luca was the guy who would take me around the paddock, as part of his role as press officer”.

Petrucci continues to talk about his memories.

“I'd known him for a long time, since he wrote for GPOne. My first reaction was to want to leave Brno, as the racing is of much less importance compared to life. Luca's passing has reminded me that the worst things are those that go unsaid. Perhaps you hold off from saying "I love you", "thanks" or "well done" because you're embarrassed to say it. If you say it to your friend, for example, it might sound likle you bat for the other team. Then, when they leave you or are no longer by your side, I think the worst thing is that you never said what you thought”.

Danilo feels the pain of this terrible loss.

“Luca was a good guy, too good in fact. The way he left us was terrible. We continue to work but the first sensation is that racing is marginal when something like this happens and the situation bothers me”.

Audio recorded by Paolo Scalera

Translated by Heather Watson
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