For Joan Mir’s reserve rider, Danilo Petrucci, the first day on the Suzuki GSX-RR didn’t go too badly. Although “Petrux” ended up in last place, he already had a lot of fun in Buriram.
Danilo Petrucci drove his last MotoGP race in Valencia in 2021, back then on the Tech3-KTM. The Italian, meanwhile, made sure to add some fantastic stories to his CV. In January he clinched a day’s victory on a KTM in Saudi Arabia at the Dakar Rally, after which he fought in MotoAmerica with Ducati for the Superbike title to the end.
For him, the commitment on the Suzuki in Thailand is the third factory commitment this year for the third manufacturer in a different series. After 25th place and 2.4 seconds behind Johann Zarco at the top the Italian spoke about his experiences on Friday. “I’m happy and sad at the same time because I made a mistake in my hunt for times. I was in a good group, but the yellow flag came out twice,” Petrucci began in an interview. “Basically, I was happy because I drove high times of 1:32 with the used tires from FP1. So I’m missing almost a second on the good guys.”
“It was only the first day. The bike is very different from the ones I’ve ridden in recent years – Ducati and KTM. It’s amazing how much speed you can take into the corners, but that’s something you have to understand first. You keep thinking to yourself, ‘This is way too fast.’ But then you always come through the curve », the 31-year-old was amazed in the afternoon. “I’ve always tried to brake as late as possible, but that’s not the way you have to ride the bike.”
Overall, Petrucci was very impressed with his experience at the Chang International Circuit. “I was glad I wasn’t last in the morning. But in the end I have difficulties in the first two sectors when braking hard. In the flowing part of the track the bike is just amazing. The inclination is insane and the cornering speed is very high,” says “Petrux”. “I need to get to know the bike better, the team needs to know me. Because in terms of height and weight, I’m not like the other drivers. I am very happy.”
“When I saw that it wasn’t raining this morning, I thought to myself: ‘I might qualify for the race.’ But now I’m only two seconds behind, so I’m about where I left off last year,” said the Suzuki driver on Friday with a smile on his face. “But this bike has more potential.”
“I expected to be even slower. Yes, I’m slower than the others, but not that far away. I’m riding a Japanese bike for the first time, it’s something completely different,” said Petrucci and then emphasized: “Unfortunately I don’t have enough money, otherwise I would buy this bike. I bought the Dakar bike, but it was only 15,000 euros. Unfortunately, this bike is a bit more expensive. Nevertheless, this week and next week I am one of the happiest people on this planet.”
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Welcome to the Buriram race weekend
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fabio quartararo
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Aleix Espargaró
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Francesco Bagnaia
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Miguel Oliveira
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Enea Bastianini
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Jack Miller
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Alex Rins
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Luca Marini
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Brad Binder
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Marco Bezzecchi
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fabio quartararo
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Maverick Vinales
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Francesco Bagnaia
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Aleix Espargaró
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johann zarco
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Marc Márquez
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fabio quartararo
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Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez
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George Martin
MotoGP, Buriram, combined times after FP2 (30/9):
1. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 30.281 min
2. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.018 sec
3. Martin, Ducati, +0.190
4. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0.242
5. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0,274
6. Miller, Ducati, +0.307
7. Marini, Ducati, + 0.313
8. Oliveira, KTM, + 0.327
9. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,360
10. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +0.484
11. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.509
12. Crutchlow, Yamaha, +0.600
13. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.611
14. Bezzecchi, Ducati, +0.683
15. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0.715
16. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 0.723
17. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +0.726
18. Brad Binder, KTM, + 0,778
19. Alex Marquez, Honda, +0.832
20. Gardner, KTM, + 1,044
21. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 1,086
22. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 1,109
23. Nagashima, Honda, +1,646
24. Petrucci, Suzuki, + 2,425
MotoGP result FP2, Buriram:
1. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 30.281 min
2. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.018 sec
3. Martin, Ducati, +0.190
4. Marini, Ducati, + 0.313
5. Oliveira, KTM, + 0.327
6. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0.433
7. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.611
8. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0,680
9. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.682
10. Bezzecchi, Ducati, +0.683
11. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0.715
12. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,807
13. Brad Binder, KTM, + 0,821
14. Alex Marquez, Honda, +0.832
15. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 0.874
16. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +0.896
17. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +1,027
18. Miller, Ducati, +1,049
19. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 1,086
20. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 1,109
21. Crutchlow, Yamaha, +1,370
22. Nagashima, Honda, +1,646
23. Gardner, KTM, + 1,685
24. Petrucci, Suzuki, + 2.609
MotoGP result FP1, Buriram:
1. Marc Marquez, Honda, 1:30.523
2. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0,032 sec
3. Miller, Ducati, +0.065
4. Marini, Ducati, +0.098
5. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,118
6. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.223
7. Oliveira, KTM, + 0.233
8. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +0.242
9. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.267
10. Martin, Ducati, +0.319
11. Crutchlow, Yamaha, +0.358
12. Zarco, Ducati, + 0.462
13. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 0.481
14. Pol Espargaro, Honda + 0.484
15. Brad Binder, KTM, + 0,536
16. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.564
17. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0.637
18. Bezzecchi, Ducati, +0.707
19. Gardner, KTM, + 0,802
20. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 1,028
21. Alex Marquez, Honda, +1,132
22. Petrucci, Suzuki, + 2.183
23. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 2,426
24. Nagashima, Honda, +2,550