Danilo Petrucci did the race needed to remember the good memories of a Ducati factory which must soon appoint its second official rider. Observers assure that Lorenzo still has every chance, but among the reds, we would rather weigh the pros and cons between Petrucci and Miller… That said, a second place in France before going to Italy is a good thing!
A performance of choice since Petrux was a threat for the winner Márquez and an inaccessible target for Red, third. A surprise for some but not for the person concerned who points out that his renewed form dates back to Q.1. And the Pramac driver still started from the front row... A miracle? No, three millimeters… He explains on Speedweek: “ we raised the front of the bike by 3 millimeters. It's not much, but on a 280 hp motorcycle it's apparently a lot! » Because since then, things have been better.
On his performance, he comments: “ it was certainly a very, very good race. I didn't start well, I was fifth at the first corner, but I always struggled at the start. I went off the track a little, Marc and Vale passed me then I passed Vale again. Dovi had the best pace, but he fell ».
“I can’t say I was comfortable” – @Petrux9 🎙
Classic Danilo in the #FrenchGP press conference 😆 pic.twitter.com/ugX2naeWx1
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 20, 2018
And on this fall, he explains: “ he fell in the same place as me on Friday when I also had the medium before. That's why I put a software. It may be less efficient, but it is safer ". He keeps on : " I saw at one point that Márquez was close to falling and I said to myself that perhaps he was starting to have problems. But the next lap, he made the best time, so I understood that he wasn't! »
« I gave everything to stay as close as possible to Márquez and also because Valentino was pushing. My bike was really good, I took it to the finish. This season, I have only been slow in Austin and I see that in the championship we are not so bad. I am now going to Mugello with a smile, even if I would have a disadvantage, because I did not do the tests there ».
Jack Miller finished fourth with a GP17 and Jorge Lorenzo finished sixth. Or his supposed rivals for the second official Ducati as teammate of Dovizioso.
HJC French Grand Prix J.3: Ranking
| 1 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda | 41'49.773 |
| 2 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | +2.310 |
| 3 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | +5.350 |
| 4 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati | +6.314 |
| 5 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | +7.419 |
| 6 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati | +10.355 |
| 7 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | +23.758 |
| 8 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | +25.795 |
| 9 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | +26.206 |
| 10 | 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | +27.937 |
| 11 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | +32.304 |
| 12 | 55 | Hafiz Syahrin | Yamaha | +34.962 |
| 13 | 21 | Frank MORBIDELLI | Honda | +37.881 |
| 14 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | KTM | +38.299 |
| 15 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | +41.986 |
| 16 | 12 | Thomas LUTHI | Honda | +45.260 |
| 17 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | +56.872 |
| 18 | 10 | Xavier SIMEON | Ducati | + 1'12.117 |
| Not Classified | ||||
| 45 | Scott REDDING | Aprilia | 17 lapses | |
| 53 | Tito RABAT | Ducati | 17 lapses | |
| 5 | johann zarco | Yamaha | 19 lapses | |
| 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 23 lapses | |
| 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | 26 lapses | |
| Not Finished 1st Lap | ||||
| 29 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | 0 laps |
