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There is a lot of regret and frustration in the words of Danilo Petrucci at the end of the first race of this Round at Jerez. Having started from the fourth slot on the grid with the goal of returning to the podium, the rider from Terni was unable to complete more than five corners due to some contacts that completely ruined his race. Starting with the one in turn 2 with Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark.
"Honestly, I told my manager Alberto Vergani that that second row was a bit 'scorching' with Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark. In fact, we hardly had enough time to say that, because in the second corner, although I tightened up the line knowing that Lowes would enter, he pushed me out and then van der Mark finished me off," said the Barni team rider recounting the frantic start of the race. "I came in behind Bautista, in around 15th-16th position. Then I came into Turn 5 and felt another blow. I don't know who it was, but it took me off line. I went into the sand at 180 km/h, tried to corner, but then I had to choose between crashing or hitting the air fences and I fell."
It was an accident that not only ended Petrux 's race but also left some small after-effects on the Terni rider's physique and morale.
"I have a bit of bloodshed in my forearm, a bone edema. I don't have any fractures, but I'm quite worried about tomorrow because I'm moving my hand badly. It hurts a little bit, also because I have two plates, and I'm disappointed because in five turns I was used as a football in two. The second one I don't even know who it is, but I don't care. I'm really sorry, though, because I think I could have been fighting for the podium, " he underlined, "I don't think I could have been with Bulega, maybe with Toprak, but I definitely could have been in the group with Locatelli and Lecuona and fought for the podium. If I don't have so much pain, I will try again tomorrow. Right now I don't know whether to be upset or bang on about it, but I keep thinking and rethinking about it."
Leaving an even more bitter taste in Petrucci's mouth is the fact that Lowes and van der Mark are not new to this kind of situation.
"What I'm saying is that we are fourth and fifth, we have 20 laps to go, why do you have to go into the second corner like that? It could have gone wrong for both of us. This time it only went wrong for me, in any case it's not pleasant," he commented, "From experienced riders like Lowes and van der Mark, who have been in the World Championship since about 2010, you don't expect it, but if you then go and see they are always there in the middle of things."
