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Danilo Petrucci experienced a high-level weekend in Portimao, taking two podiums and a total of three top fives. Not a bad haul at all, but the Danilo who arrives at the meeting with journalists at the end of Race 2 is not smiling as usual, because being able to get on the podium even of the last race would have been the classic icing on the cake.
No harm done however, because with this weekend in Portimao, Petrux has made a big leap forward in the overall standings, moving just 8 points behind Andrea Locatelli, who is ahead of him in 5th position. This was his comment at the end of the Portuguese SBK weekend.
"Honestly after the good race this morning, I knew Toprak was on another level - were Danilo's words - I think he showed his true potential this morning. But at least I thought I would fight for the podium in Race 2, only the wind was very strong and it was a big problem for me. I am very tall, usually my bike is very low in the back and high in the front and that's why I was suffering a lot in the last corner."
Did you think you would be on the podium?
"At the beginning of the race I was there anyway, but I was losing a lot of time at that point of the track and on the straight. Later when I caught van der Mark I had problems because at every straight he was passing me back and we lost the group of those ahead of us, including Iannone."
Maybe the duel with van der Mark took away your chance to get on the podium?
"In any case I didn't have the pace for the podium, the bike was really difficult to ride today, very nervous in front and also the rear gave a lot of jolts. I should in any case be happy, but the reality is that I am not. As you said, I thought I was there for the podium. But to make two podiums in three races is a lot, I made a lot of points and I am close to 5th in the championship. In the end I am not happy! I would have expected something more, but when I think about the big picture it's different."
Did you expect a more effective Ducati in Portimao, especially given the recent history on this track?
"On paper, we already knew on Tuesday that this track could be a problem for Ducati. There are a lot of ups and downs and I know it was also difficult for Bulega, because he is also very tall and like me he keeps the center of gravity on the bike very high. So stopping the bike in these conditions is difficult. But my team is doing a great job, I'm riding a very good bike all the time this year. Here from the first session I was fast."
Would it have been a perfect weekend with a podium finish?
"In the end I'm pissed about 5th place, but when I think a few races ago I would have been happy with a similar result. We were always in the top five this weekend, now I'm looking forward to Magny Cours because we were always fast there."
Next comes Estoril, do you know it?
"I have only raced once in my life at Estoril and Stoner was still there. I remember well that I was lapped! It was the only time in my life, so I don't have great memories. I think it was my third race in MotoGP and I remember very well the moment when they showed me the blue flags, something horrible for a rider. I was with the Ioda, I also remember that I made one point, but I was taking something like four seconds a lap. On the podium were people like Stoner, Lorenzo and Pedrosa."
It seems that with this Panigale you have reached the limit, do you think there is still room?
"We are often on the limit, today the strong wind unbalanced us a lot. This year we are working a lot to find confidence with the front end, I think we can make some more steps forward and also make it less problematic with the strong wind."
