Petrucci back on form and the front row, says Ducꦏati top speed is now its 🐟weakness

Danilo Petrucci was a welcoꦦme returnee to the top three post-qualifying media obligations after achieving a 🐬strong third place on the grid for the French MotoGP at Le Mans.

The Italian’s troubled 12-14 months with Ducati have been well documented after Petrucci’s form🌃 took an inexplicable nose dive almost immediately after claiming an  emotional and hugely memorable maiden victory on home soil at Mugello in 2019.

However, there has bee💖n precious little to shout about since, with Pet💝rucci only 14th in the overall standings clutching a best result of seventh in 2020.

Nonetheless, he stands to better 𝄹that on Sunda🧜y after making the most of his extra mileage in Q1 to breeze right onto the front row with Fabio Quartararo and Ducati counterpart Jack Miller.

“I am really happy because I knew I could have a good weekend here,” he said. “This morning on my FP3 runs I always found yellow flags. So I had to pass through Q1, but ꦯI felt good with the bike - I have always liked this track since I started in MotoGP. Usually we race in May and today is October, so I have had to wait a long time to be here. 

“I am happy because since Barcelജona I have found something interesting, especially under braking where I stru൲ggle the most this year.

“In Barcelona I lost a lot of time on the straights and in Le Mans there aren’t so manyꦑ long straights. So I think it is a good thing to start on the front row because I can fight for the podium. Starting at the front you stay ahead of problems and manage the race.”

Asked to expand on why he sing🐎led out Le Mans’♌ lack of straights as being a good thing for a Ducati - normally celebrated for its superior top speed advantage - Petrucci instead reveals the team cannot keep up with its rivals in a straight line..

“Usuꦍally it is a strong point of Ducati, but we noticed since Red Bull Ring - where I was losing time on the stra♏ights - it was a problem, because I was doing well under braking but in Barcelona there was a problem. We don’t understand why but my weight for sure is higher, but is same as last season and it was one of our stronger points. 

“In Barcelona last year I could defend from Fabio and Alex Rins, but this year I had a lot of people passing me. We don’t understand why, the aero has♓ changed a bit, but for sure it’s one of the weaker points of this year [now].”

Petrucci will switch to the Tech 3 KTM team for the 2021 MotoGP World Championship.