Qatar Test: Petrucci 'removes doubts' as Ducati shows pace
Jack Miller may have been the only Ducati rider in the top nine on the final day of MotoGP pre⛎-season testing in Qatar but fellow GP20 riders Danilo Petrucci, Andrea Dovizioso and Francesco Bagnaia were all buoyed by the results of a rac🍷e simulation.
The Desmosed🌳icis had been unable to match the long-r🐽un form of the top Yamaha (Maverick Vinales), both Suzukis (Alex Rins and Joan Mir) and even the Aprilia of Aleix Espargaro at the previous Sepang test.

Jack Miller may have been the only Ducati ride🍷r in the top n🅰ine on the final day of MotoGP pre-season testing in Qatar but fellow GP20 riders Danilo Petrucci, Andrea Dovizioso and Francesco Bagnaia were all buoyed by the results of a race simulation.
The Desmosedicis had been unable to match the long-run form of the top Yamaha (Maverick Vinales), both Suzu💙kis (Alex Rins and Joan Mir) and even the Aprilia of Aleix Espargaro at the previous Sepang test.
While in Malaysia, Petrucci and Dovizioso got significantly slower as the laps progressed and Bagnai𒈔a was off the pace throughout, at Losail the trio were still mi▨xing it with the pace of the Petronas Yamahas by the end of their runs.
Petrucci was perhaps the most imp🍒ressive of the trio, setting his fastest lap of the night with a full tank of fu🔜el at the start of his race simulation. The Italian was only 0.8s slower at the end, with 21-laps on the tyres.
“I am happy about this final day of testing here in Qatar," said Pet💯rucci, despite being only 16th fastest (+0.894s) over a single lap.
"We tried to manage our last session well 💫without focusing on lap times and gꦕiving priority to the long run.
"We were able to cover🎉 the same distance as the race and to remov♈e the doubts that we still had.
"Now we need to work well during the race weeken🌠d to be able to secure a good starting position for the race.
"As we were fast during the▨ race simulation, I am sure that we will be able to be competitive 🍸also in the race."

As at Sepang, Dovizioso joined Petrucci on track during the long run, so they could better simulate race co𝐆nditions.
“I am really satisfied with the work done 𒁃today," said Dovizioso, winner in Qatar for the past two seasons. "We were able to try different setups that helped us understandܫ that we still have some room left for improvement.
"The most positive aspect of today❀ was the race simulation. With used tyres, I was able to cover the race distance without problems.
"On top of that, I did a few laps behind Danilo, which he💮lped me to understand how to manage better the tyres. My race pace is good, and I am sure that if we can be fast as the front guys, then we will be able to fight for the top positions during the race weekend."
Dovizioso was tenth on the final timesheets (+0.454s) and just ahead o♈f Pramac's Bagnaia, who turned h꧑eads by being close to Petrucci's pace after 20 laps.
"It was a test where we improved a lot, in particularly about race pace🌟, I’m sorry f﷽or the time attack today, because I found traffic in my best lap," Bagnaia said.
"What makes me happy and confident is th🧸e race simulation. For sure we can improve, but after this test I have a clear idea about the race approach and I have more confidence with my bike."
Team-mate Jack Miller was the fastest Ducati in fifth (+0.247s).The Austr൲alian didn't put in a full race simulation, but was satisfied with his final run of half-race distance.
"It wꦇas a good day, we did two long runs and the second one was better, where I improved my race pace," he said. "With the medium tyres my feel👍ing was much better, we can still improve a lot and I am confident that before GP we will find the answers we are looking for."
All the GP20s now have the ride-hꦉeight adjuster handlebar switch, an extension of the holeshot device, which allows them to lock the rear of the bike in a lowered position on ✤the exit of corners for better acceleration.

Peꦗter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Val𒉰entino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.