The double MotoGP race winner was drafted in by the manufacturing unit Ducati squad for final weekend’s Le Mans spherical to exchange the injured Enea Bastianini.
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Petrucci raced with Ducati from 2015 to 2020, taking each of his grand prix wins with the manufacturing unit staff. He successfully retired from MotoGP on the finish of 2021 and now races in World Superbikes with the Italian marque.
He completed 11th within the crash-filled French GP, getting the higher of fellow stand-ins Lorenzo Savadori (RNF Aprilia) and Jonas Folger at Petrucci’s former KTM-backed Tech3 squad.
Admitting he was “upset” on Sunday to have already completed the weekend, Petrucci says the 2023 Ducati is “the very best bike I’ve ever ridden in my life”.
“It was unbelievable, as a result of coming again to MotoGP with this bike – the very best bike I’ve ever ridden in my life – on this observe the place I scored three podiums, one win, it was actually like a present,” he stated.
“I’m so pleased with it and I can solely say because of Ducati for this large alternative.
“In the long run the race was fairly powerful, however I used to be quicker than yesterday [Saturday in the sprint].
“I’m simply so upset it’s already Sunday. Perhaps I can’t trip this bike once more, sadly. However for positive, coming again to Le Mans with this crowd, with a manufacturing unit bike, and a staff with which I received and stood on the rostrum many instances, is one thing I’ll always remember. I’m so completely satisfied.”
Danilo Petrucci, Ducati Crew
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Petrucci famous that Ducati has been in a position to repair the entire points it used to have with the bike when he final raced with the marque in 2020, which was tough to get his head round.
“Ducati did a extremely nice job, as a result of they fastened the issues we had prior to now,” he added.
“I imply, closing the nook (turning) and the facility launch in the midst of the nook when the bike is bent.
“Now it’s actually obscure when to open the throttle, as a result of the bike is carrying the velocity, is closing the nook and also you by no means lose traction.
“On braking it’s already actually good. This weekend I used to be struggling a bit as a result of I’m not used to opening the throttle so early within the nook as a result of I bear in mind this downside, and particularly this 12 months I’m battling the Superbike on this space.”
Petrucci rode a Suzuki rather than Joan Mir in final 12 months’s Thailand GP throughout a 2022 season by which he grew to become the primary MotoGP rider ever to win a stage on the Dakar Rally, and in addition completed runner-up within the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
