This year will be crucial for a Danilo Petrucci on contract within the official Ducati team for only one year. And the hourglass has already started to run down. Like the competition with his rivals nestled within his former Pramac team. Miller and bagnaia are looking at his handlebars. And they let him know by taking his aspiration into conquering the best time on this third day at Sepang. A battle between Ducatists which left one victim: the Malaysian track record!
And it was Petrux who made it his own in a 1'58.239 which shows that he will fight with ferocity to stay alongside Dovizoso. On the site GP One, he comments on a performance that puts him on the shelves: “ It's a good feeling, especially since I don't particularly like the heat. It's also a useful result that shows I can do it when necessary. But the race will always be another matter ».
This Friday in Malaysia saw four Ducatis in the leading quartet. A domination that Petrux tempers: “ we must remain careful because Yamaha has taken a big step forward. Rins and the Suzuki are fast. The Honda will also definitely be there. But it's a great way to start the year; I did not expect that ».
That being said, the highlight of this Malaysian getaway will be for Petrucci the racing simulation carried out in conjunction with Dovizioso : " I enjoyed this exercise. I remained fast despite the worn tires and generally struggle more in such heat. However, I still remain too instinctive in my driving. The level of MotoGP rises every year and the fact that there was no longer a place for someone like Pedrosa demonstrates this. The top 10 are now fighting for the podium. The goal is to be among the best, but I believe that others also have this goal! »
His day started with a record but it also ended with a fall… “ In particular, I was supposed to try the new fins, but I fell before I could really evaluate them. Likewise with the new tires. My day ended around 14:00 p.m. That being said, I wanted to know the real difference between an official bike in a factory team and having the same one in a private team. Some things are now clear ". And defeat forbidden...
MotoGP, Sepang J3 Test: times
| 1 | 9 | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati GP19 | 1:58.239 | ||
| 2 | 63 | Francis Bagnaia | Ducati GP18 | 1:58.302 | 0.063 | 0.063 |
| 3 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati GP19 | 1:58.366 | 0.127 | 0.064 |
| 4 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati GP19 | 1:58.538 | 0.299 | 0.172 |
| 5 | 12 | Maverick Vinales | Yamaha M1 | 1:58.644 | 0.405 | 0.106 |
| 6 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda RC213V | 1:58.780 | 0.541 | 0.136 |
| 7 | 41 | Aleix Espargaró | Aprilia RS-GP | 1:59.022 | 0.783 | 0.242 |
| 8 | 21 | Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha M1 | 1:59.141 | 0.902 | 0.119 |
| 9 | 30 | Takaaki Nakagami | Honda RC213V | 1:59.148 | 0.909 | 0.007 |
| 10 | 46 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha M1 | 1:59.155 | 0.916 | 0.007 |
| 11 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda RC213V | 1:59.170 | 0.931 | 0.015 |
| 12 | 42 | alex rins | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1:59.180 | 0.941 | 0.010 |
| 13 | 6 | Stefan bradl | Honda RC213V | 1:59.368 | 1.129 | 0.188 |
| 14 | 53 | Tito Rabat | Ducati GP18 | 1:59.485 | 1.246 | 0.117 |
| 15 | 36 | Joan mir | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1:59.486 | 1.247 | 0.001 |
| 16 | 20 | fabio quartararo | Yamaha M1 | 1:59.497 | 1.258 | 0.011 |
| 17 | 5 | Johann zarco | KTM RC16 | 1:59.640 | 1.401 | 0.143 |
| 18 | 44 | Pol Espargaro | KTM RC16 | 1:59.751 | 1.512 | 0.111 |
| 19 | 88 | Miguel Oliveira | KTM RC16 | 1:59.949 | 1.710 | 0.198 |
| 20 | 17 | Karel Abraham | Ducati GP18 | 2:00.378 | 2.139 | 0.429 |
| 21 | 55 | Hafiz Syahrin | KTM RC16 | 2:00.766 | 2.527 | 0.388 |
| 22 | 50 | Sylvain Guintoli | Suzuki GSX-RR | 2:00.990 | 2.751 | 0.224 |
| 23 | 38 | Bradley Smith | Aprilia RS-GP | 2:00.995 | 2.756 | 0.005 |
| 24 | 66 | Mika Kallio | KTM RC16 | 2:01.020 | 2.781 | 0.025 |
| 25 | T2 | Nakasuga/Folger | Yamaha M1 | 2:01.243 | 3.004 | 0.223 |
| 26 | T1 | Jonas Folger | Yamaha M1 | 2:01.719 | 3.480 | 0.476 |
