Sixth in the 2019 World Championship behind fabio quartararo, Danilo Petrucci brilliantly won the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on his Ducati, also reaching the podium in France and Catalonia. Here he explains why he's so fascinated by the MotoGP class when he actually has more fun in motocross, just like his teammate Andrea Dovizioso.
Danilo Petrucci moved from minicross to road motorcycles at the age of 14. To train and out of pure passion, he still frequently rides on MX tracks.
“In motocross, the freedom of the rider is expressed », Enthuses Petrux. “There, the driver counts much more, he has more room for maneuver. He can bring more of himself. In MotoGP riding is not fun, because to be fast you have to use a method that is often not fun. »
“MotoGP is fascinating because it’s a real challenge, it’s your whole life. You ride one of the fastest motorcycles on the planet, with the fastest riders in the world, and the challenge is to be the fastest in the world, to push a motorcycle to the limit that only 22 riders in the world are allowed to rub shoulders. That's the challenge: riding the best motorcycle in the world against the best riders in the world. »
“I talked to a lot of drivers about it because I thought maybe I was weird in that regard. But it turned out to be normal. It's perhaps also because at our level – barely higher than that of an amateur – we can still have fun on the cross bike. I don't know how Tony [Cairoli] or Gajser see it “, he remarked about two of the MXGP World Champions of recent years.
“On the asphalt it's deceptive because the track always looks the same. In reality, the difference between 9 a.m. and 15 p.m. is like day and night. You can't see it from the outside. On the MX bike you can bring more of yourself as a rider, in MotoGP you have to adapt more to the situation. All riders have their own style and specific characteristics, but in 80% of cases you have to get involved with the bike and the tires and adapt to the prevailing conditions. »
“Even if you try to give more of yourself in MotoGP and increase the intensity, you still can't improve your lap time. In MotoGP, the strongest rider is the one who adapts to the bike, the tires and the track – in the prevailing conditions; the pilot who constantly adapts. »
“All MotoGP riders have worked their whole lives to be there. Every MotoGP rider is a beast. There are no weak pilots there. It is therefore very difficult to tell the difference. That's the best part. You ride with the best in the world. I have the chance to ride the best bike Ducati has ever made. This makes me particularly proud as an Italian. »
“I can't single out a single driver in the top five. Last year I finished in 6th place in the World Championship, although I fought for third place for a long time. But I can't say which one is worse or better, for me everyone is the worst enemy. »
“To compete with Marc, Andrea, Fabio, Maverick or Valentino... they are all tough bones. It's very difficult. Everyone has a particular ability, Valentino is very strong on the brakes for example, and Andrea too. But we can't say that Marc isn't really good on the brakes. All 22 drivers are incredible. »
Source: Speedweek. com
Photos © Ducati
