Jerez J.3 tests Danilo Petrucci “I have to try to go fast without destroying the tires”

The 2017 season will remain a great vintage for Petrux with 4 podiums (Mugello, Assen, Misano, Japan) and 4 front rows (Barcelona, ​​Germany, Assen, Japan). The driver from Terni, now 27 years old, fully intends to repeat this performance, and why not win his first victory in 2018.

To do this, he completed 52 laps at Jerez, not racing on Wednesday, then achieving the eighth fastest time on Thursday, 1.025 behind Andrea Dovizioso's new record. It was on his usual GP17. The next day, Friday, he inherited the machine that the Ducati factory calls the "laboratory motorcycle" and Pramac Racing the "GP18", after the official team left the evening before after the second day of testing, in the company of 'Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo.

On the third and final day, Friday, Danilo achieved the sixth overall time, behind three MotoGPs (the Suzuki of Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins, and the KTM of Pol Espargaro) and the two Kawasaki Superbikes of Jonathan Rea. and Tom Sykes. Petrucci was 0.621 behind Rea (on qualifying Pirelli tires). Petrux finished with the eighth final time, 0.944 behind Dovizioso.

According to Danilo Petrucci, “We have worked a lot on development and settings, testing the new bike even though it is still too early to make a judgement.

“The test wasn't bad, but I crashed on Thursday. Luckily I wasn't on the new bike at the time. We tested something else on the old machine.

“I tried to manage my rear tire better, like I saw Dovizioso and Lorenzo do. My problem is this: I always brake a little later, then release the brake later, but accelerate earlier. This way the rear tire is more affected. If you put too much pressure on the Michelin tires in the middle of the curve, you won't get the traction you need on the exit. Now I have to try to be fast, but still spare the tires.

“We tried some improvements. I drove regularly in 1'38 several times. I tried to release the brakes early and then waited another half second to get on the gas. Now I have to try to go fast without destroying the tires.

“My fall on Thursday was brutal and I suffered a few bruises. I lost the front end and my bike drove straight into the wall. I'm sorry for the crash which gave the team a lot of work. For this reason, I would like to fully thank her.

“An emotional season is coming to an end and now it is time to rest and prepare for the end of January.”

Combined ranking of all Jerez MotoGP tests:

1. Andrea Dovizioso (I), Ducati, 1'37.663
2. Cal Crutchlow (GB), Honda, +0.155
3. Jorge Lorenzo (E), Ducati, +0.258
4. Andrea Iannone (I), Suzuki, + 0.367
5. Pol Espargaró (E), KTM, +0.567
6. Alex Rins (E), Suzuki, +0.644
7. Tito Rabat (E), Ducati, +0.725
8. Danilo Petrucci (I), Ducati, +0.944
9 Bradley Smith (GB), KTM, +1.058
10. Scott Redding (GB), Aprilia, +1.115
11. Jack Miller (AUS), Ducati, +1.213
12. Franco Morbidelli (I), Honda, 1.260
13. Takaaki Nakagami (J), Honda, +1.329
14. Eugene Laverty (NIR), Aprilia, +1.823
15. Alex Marquez (E), Honda, +2.119
16. Xavier Simeon (B), Ducati, +2,669
17. Takumi Takahashi (J), Honda, 3,459

Photo and video © Pramac Racing