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Coming off the back of a weekend that did not bring the expected and hoped for results, Danilo Petrucci began the last weekend of the season at the Jerez de La Frontera circuit by setting the tenth best time in FP1, and then improving to third in the second session. A result that gives encouragment to the Barni team rider ahead of the next sessions.
"Overall a good end to the day unlike the morning when I was struggling more. The grip was not optimal and I wanted to focus on being fast instead of understanding the bike and tires. From Aragon I started to ride differently and that didn't pay off either at Estoril or here, so for the afternoon I tried to be more gentle and with one tire I was faster getting closer to the leaders and even the race simulation left me quite satisfied. It's always nice when you finish in the top 3. The problem here is that conditions change quickly and everyone knows the track well, so tomorrow it won't be easy at all to finish in the first two rows. Race 1 will also be complicated because of the very small gap between the riders. If it is easy to lose ground, it is not easy to make a difference," the rider from Terni reflected.
On Sunday night the checkered flag will also fly on 2024. "I 'm happy because it's been an intense season, but on the other hand I'm disappointed because when you're fighting for victory you always want to be in front. As for me in the last 6/7 rounds I was always fast and often led the group. Even at Estoril where I didn't go well I dictated the pace in Race 1 and the Superpole Race and at Motorland I was in front in Race 1. After not being on the podium in the last two races, that's my goal for this end of the year, and I'm already looking forward to starting again for 2025," he remarked.
This weekend will also be particularly delicate because Razgaltioglu and Bulega will be fighting for the top trophy. "I happened to be in the middle a couple of times when Marquez and Dovizioso were fighting for the title and it's always a bad situation because you don't want to be involved maybe in decisive mistakes. So I hope to be ahead of everyone so I don't have this problem. It won't be easy, but I will pay a lot of attention because I have great respect for both of them. Nicolo is a friend, while Toprak is a good guy, as well as a very good rider, so I don't want to find myself in some headlines on Sunday morning," he joked.
In these hours it has been announced that Fabio Di Giannantonio will undergo shoulder surgery and VR46 Racing has opted for Andrea Iannone as the Rome rider's replacement. "In 2023 in France I finished 11th and entered the points zone, plus I raced in MotoGP until 2021, I would have liked to take Fabio's place, but it's all a nice idea until you get on the bike. Fantastic interviews, the pride and elation of being on one of the most competitive bikes in the world, but then in FP1 the level is so high and you're new, so it's tough. By the way Sepang is very complicated, with little grip and it's hard to race there. On the one hand, I'm disappointed, but on the other hand I'm happy because it's hard to get to the finish line. In Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in the last five laps you see dragons, something you don't wish on anyone," he finally said.
