What's going on in the Ducati house? There first day in Argentina was a moment of crisis and confusion at a factory which had accustomed us to much better things under the direction of Gigi Dall'Igna. But we seem to fall from Charybdis to Scylla at Termas de Rio Hondo. An error in the choice of tires for Lorenzo, a technical problem impossible to resolve at Dovizioso, and here is the GP17 humiliated by its older sisters. Fortunately, Petrucci is there to save the honor of the latest addition.
Incidentally, at Ducati, we also seem to take one step forward and two steps back. The Borgo Panigale firm started the off-season strong with original aerodynamic developments to compensate for the absence of wings. A box at the back was intriguing. From ? The case is still there, but as for the fairing, we leave it there for the moment. And even the engine 2016 would have returned to service.
Add to that this dark day of Friday for the reds and you will have the reasons for a gray appearance. Even if, among the top 6 of the Termas de Rio Hondo ranking, there are four Ducatis. Certainly, but only one GP17!
This one is piloted by a Danilo Petrucci who would like to see his dark streak end. In Qatar he did not score any points due to a technical problem and last year he was absent in Argentina due to injury. But this time, everything seems to be better: “ I am happy with the work accomplished so far. I feel good on the bike and from the morning we went in the right direction ».
« I enjoy driving. We also immediately put our finger on what could help us progress. Perhaps I could have done better in the time trial, because I made a few mistakes. But overall I'm satisfied ».
The Pramac driver sees his teammate Redding on his GP16 to finish eleventh. An interesting group shot for the team.
MotoGP Argentina J.1 Ranking
1. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 39.477s
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 39.778s +0.301s
3. Karel Abraham CZE Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 39.880s +0.403s
4. Alvaro Bautista ESP Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 39.922s +0.445s
5. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 39.960s +0.483s
6. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 40.120s +0.643s
7. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 40.124s +0.647s
8. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 40.157s +0.680s
9. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 40.175s +0.698s
10. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 40.250s +0.773s
11. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.338s +0.861s
12. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 40.340s +0.863s
13. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 40.345s +0.868s
14. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 40.399s +0.922s
15. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.431s +0.954s
16. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 40.531s +1.054s
17. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 40.588s +1.111s
18. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
1m 40.599s +1.122s
19. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 40.908s +1.431s
20. alex rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 41.083s +1.606s
21. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 41.632s +2.155s
22. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 42.074s +2.597s
23. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
1m 42.179s +2.702s
