Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) showed some incredible pace once again at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, following up his incredible Mugello podium in style. A career first front row start then gave way to a little drama off the line as the Italian made contact with reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), but ‘Petrux’ stayed in the mix to fight at the front – until a crash out of contention late in the race. Still, Petrucci finds the positives in having been in the battle once more:
Danilo Petrucci, DNF: “They gave me a warning for that contact with Marquez, and I tried to recover but I never managed to get back in the top three even though in the end I was able to pass Folger to get into fourth place. I thought I could take Pedrosa to get another podium but then I felt that the rear rubber had started to drop. I tried to change the mapping but things didn’t improve. I was trying to resist, but I couldn’t accelerate any more - maybe I pushed a bit too early to recover. I was there with them again, but then I made a mistake.”
"Sorry mate!" @Petrux9 to @marcmarquez93 about yesterday's clash #CatalanTest #sportsmanship @pramacracing ???????? ???? pic.twitter.com/BqPKiVoNNJ
— Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) 12 June 2017
The test the next day at the track say 'Petrux' sit out some of the day after his crash on Sunday, but the Italian put in 28 laps to go eleventh - just behind Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). Now it's on to Assen for the Dutch GP, ready to roll on June 23rd.
Toccando (un po' troppo) terra!
— Danilo Petrucci (@Petrux9) 12 June 2017
Touching (lil bit too much) ground! @MotoGP @pramacracing #catalanGP pic.twitter.com/McZQKpNsJR