Petrucci: “I gained 11 positions in the first two corners!”

Italian makes it from the back to sixth at Sepang in an impressive comeback

Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) had a nightmare start to the Malaysian GP when he suffered a problem with his number one bike on the sighting lap and had to head back to pitlane – then forced to start from the back. But with the weather having changed and rain coming down ahead of lights out, the odds were bettered after Petrucci’s incredible form in the wet this season.

“Starting from the back I made a good start,” said the Italian, who shot off the line. “And then I gained maybe 10 or 11 positions in the first two corners!”

From there, it was a fight to sixth – and a good haul of points considering, with it having looked unlikely he’d even make the start when he was stranded out on track.

“From then, I don’t know why, my bike was difficult to ride,” shrugged the Italian, who was recently on the podium at both Motegi and Misano in the wet. “By the end we managed a good sixth position, but I’m not so happy, we could have finished on the podium. But it’s finished now, and we’re looking forward to Valencia.”