It’s a bit of a battered and battered Ducati that emerged from the first two sessions of the Brno weekend, the third of the season after the clash in Jerez. The dents come from the decay of Pecco Bagnaia, the best Ducati rider in Andalusia before his engine failed and who has now? ended up in hospital with a broken tibia. However, the difficulties are all for Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci, respectively 15th and 14th in the overall ranking and who were the protagonists of an unforgettable afternoon.
“The arrival of this new rear tire has shuffled the cards on the table – Danilo Petrucci told us at the end of FP2 – We didn’t expect such a difference, I’ve been riding this bike for years and I’ve learned to ride it a certain way. Now it is no longer possible. I did a quick race simulation in Qatar, just like this morning, and it wasn’t hot either time. Unfortunately, this year even two tenths make a big difference and our bike does not react constantly when braking and the behavior changes depending on the track conditions. We are looking for a consistency that is not there at the moment and for this reason we cannot make any changes with the team “.
Danilo, in recent seasons the Ducati has always seemed to be the most complete machine, on par, if not better, than Marc Marquez’s Honda. This year, however, you started a little further down. Isn’t that what you think through the arrival of other manufacturers like KTM? could this be Borgo Panigale’s last chance to take home the championship?
“Our opponents must have come closer and it will be difficult to make a difference. We are at the beginning of the development of these bikes and only those KTM and Aprilia have made progress thanks to the concessions. From September onwards, a lot could change due to the falling temperatures, which is good for us, but now we are not in the top 4 on the grid “.
The big absentee of this weekend (and the next) will be Marc Marquez. being who had to undergo another operation after – according to Alberto Puig – he broke the titanium plate that he had in his shoulder, which opened a window. Puig also stated that winning a championship without a Marquez is less worthwhile. Do you agree? Does the title have a different meaning in 2020?
“This is a championship like any other. Marquez was injured, but we all started in the same condition and Injuries are part of the game. Alberto may have his opinion, but I don’t think this season’s winner is worth less than the winner of any other championship.
Dovizioso has been second in the world championship for 3 years. Do you think it would be even more demoralistic for him to end up in this position this year since Marquez is not in the first place?
“The values on the route have not yet been precisely defined, ieIf I’ve stood in Dovizioso’s shoes for the past few years, it would have always hurt me to finish second, I hope that this year, like 2017, he can fight to the end and that maybe things go better. At the moment Quartararo is quick in all conditions and it seems difficult to drop him off.
Which race do you expect on Sunday? Does Yamaha have anything else?
“At the moment Yamaha and Suzuki are fast, we have to work and I don’t know what race to expect. The removal of the tire will be the key to the race, because after 6 laps the tires will fall off a lot, after 20 I can’t imagine. With our work we can also be among the best, this morning I thought I was going to fight for the podium, this afternoon no “.
Another injury today: that of Pecco Bagnaia. What are all of these crashes due to? Too much desire to race after a time without bikes?
“There is incredible competitiveness and even a tenth of a second can move you up a lot. We’re at the limit and that’s why we see so many crashes as well as the conditions of the tracks we rode because it was very hot in Jerez and here in Brno the asphalt has not been renewed for 12 years and it is full of holes, it is one of the worst in the championship. We all have little grip and are a long way from the times we did on this track a few years ago.