Danilo Petrucci feels his front row start 🌺for the Qatar MotoGP could be vital to avoid the opening lap scraps for the top positions as he looks to conserve his tyr✱e life for the race distance.

The P🔥ramac Ducati rider has secured a front row start for the 2018 MotoGP season opener alongside pole-sitter Johann Zarco and Repsolꦯ Honda’s Marc Marquez having converted his impressive free practice pace in qualifying.

Despite hiཧs positive performance in qualifying Petrucci concedes it may mean little in the race unless he can maintain the performance in his Michelin tyres forꩲ the full distance having suffered with the issue at times during the 2017 campaign.

Petrucci has taken steps to address the problem by slimming down to lighten his combඣined rider and bike weight plus adopting a smoother riding style and throttle control with the GP18.

“I am a little bit scared for the first lap because many riders will want to stay in the to𝐆p positions and will have to do some overtakes to remain in the top group,” Petrucci said. “This means that you will use up a lot of 🃏the rear tyre.

“Managing the rear tyre tomorrow will be key and in the second half ofꦉ the race I hope to stay in the top group but if you check all the names and the pace it will be difficult [to predict].

“My target was to be on the first two rows because I know that tomorrow se🌄ven, eight or even nine riders will be in the front group so I need to be in the front as much as possible as I did one good start in three [practice starts]. Th🃏e start is not easy for me.”

Petrucci agrees with both Marquez and Cal Crutchlow that Dovജizioso is the rider to fear with the strongest race pace but has refused to rule out almost half the MotoGP field ♓who could be running in the pack at the front.

“Dovizioso is the stronger one because he is able to manag🅰e the tyre until the end and I think he will have more,” he said. “I cannot say there will be a weak or slower rider so it is😼 impossible to predict the race tomorrow.”