First French driver to arrive in Qatar, Jules Danilo equals his best result in a Grand Prix.
Slightly behind during the testing sessions at Losail, Jules Danilo managed to climb up to 11th position when passing under the checkered flag, first French representative, “After three days of testing, all the drivers were riding very fast from the first session,” confides Danilo. “This track is very pleasant, but the slipstream is a real handicap: it represents almost a second per lap."
“I rode alone a lot, mainly at the end of the session, which penalized me in the ranking. However, I felt good on the bike and never felt worried.”
The Honda driver placed himself in 22nd position on the starting grid, “It wasn't the ideal position, but I managed to get into the rhythm straight from the start of the race,” reassures the Frenchman. “My times were very good, in 2'06. I wasn't any faster than in practice, but this time I benefited from the slipstream. I was fast while keeping a cool head. I pushed myself and managed to move up eleven positions in the rankings. "
Facing the two KTMs from the Leopard Racing team, Joan Mir and Fabio Quartararo, and the Honda of young rookie Aron Canet, Danilo was able to maintain the advantage, “JI overtook them at the first turn and managed to keep my place until the finish, taking care to exit the last turn more quickly. We had remade a slightly shorter gearbox before the race and I think that's what allowed me to have good acceleration. "
Building on this result, the Frenchman hopes to confirm in Argentina next week, “JHe thinks it will be a different test, but it was important to start the season well. There will not be three days of testing before the Grand Prix and everyone will be on equal footing,” he concludes.
