MotoGP Le Mans: Danilo Petrucci: “More power, more power - I have arms 2cm longer!”

Danilo Petrucci may have spent most of his MotoGP career on Ducati machinery, but it was still something of a shock when he climbed back on a Desmosedici at Le Mans on Friday.
Danilo Petrucci, MotoGP, French MotoGP, 12 May
Danilo Petrucci, MotoGP, French MotoGP, 12 May

Called up in place of꧒ the injured Enea Bastianini, Petrucci, who now races for Ducati in WorldSBK, is returning to the team with which he won the 2020 French MoꦕtoGP.

The Italian also made a one-off MotoGP appearance for Suzuki last season but was instaꦉntly impressed by his first taste of the Desmosedici♏ GP23.

Petrucci set the 19th fa𝄹stest lap time, 2.072s from KTM’s Jack Miller but ahead of fellow replacements Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) and Jonas Folger (GASGAS).

“I’m quite happy about today,” Petrucci said. “My lap time was not so bad. I even had riders behind me. I’m not far from the guys in front. Scoring a point is not so far but I nee𒐪d some kilometres more.

“After the Dakar, MotoAmerica, SBK, I tried many different bikes and I didn’t remember so well how to ride a MotoGP. I need to be really focussed because at th🍎e Dakar I was using my left hand to scroll the road book. Here it’s for the ride height device!

“With this bike, you just feel the speed, and the stiffness. You need to be re🦂ally aggressive. I’m slow to change the direction because I’m scared of losing the front.

“But it’s so impreꦑssive how eaౠsy is to open the throttle compared to two years ago.

“In SBK I’m struggling to not slide in the middle of the corner. Here, when you open the throt🥃tle it’s like electric. The power [delivery] is unbelievable. It doꦉesn’t lose traction. I even said there’s too much traction! And there’s never too much!

“It’sꦇ really powerful, but easy. Some time ago it was let’s say really difficult to open the throttle.

“Also the gearbox is unbꦓelievable, you ju🐻st click and it’s like the bike put the turbo. Every gear you go, it’s more power, more power. I think I have arms 2cm longer!

Danilo Petrucci, MotoGP, French MotoGP, 12 May
Danilo Petrucci, MotoGP, French MotoGP, 12 May

“In the past the fairing was bigger. Now it’s smaller but ﷺthe bike’s improved a lot in turning and stability.

“Fo𒀰r sure I’m not using all its potential but it’s quite difficult to jump on it and be fast. I’m so glad to ride this bike. I would’ve liked to ride it more, but I think this (GP) is my last one.

“For me it’s like a prize. I hope Enea comes back as soon as possible. In Thailand I said it was my last time,🃏 wasn’t expecting to come back. I want to enjoy and stay in front of the other replacement riders.”

Team-mate and reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia was 1.5s ahead of Petrucc✨i in🌟 ninth.

Petrucci will take part in his first ever MotoGP sprꦐint race on Saturday afternoon.

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

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