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Danilo Petrucci finished the first race at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola with a sixth position, following up on the first podium of his career in the Superbike World Championship achieved earlier this month at Donington Park. In the Santerno "furnace" the rider from Terni put together a good comeback despite a rather underwhelming qualifying session, which had relegated him to the tenth spot on the grid.
“I don't remember ever encountering such scorching temperatures, reaching the finish line was half a feat - admitted Petrucci - I had to regain the right confidence on the bike after the engine problem I suffered in the morning in FP3, in the end in Superpole I completed only a handful of flying laps. In the first laps I recovered a few positions, my pace wasn't bad, but as I continued through the laps I started to have traction problems. Having to brake hard, the pressure in the front tyre skyrocketed, the bike closed in every corner. At that point I decided to salvage what could be saved. I don't know what we'll do tomorrow with these environmental conditions... just think that, once back in the pits, the bike was boiling hot and untouchable!”.
And he added: “At Donington Park we had excellent pace, here we are probably struggling more than we should due to the heat which prevents us from keeping the front in the correct range of use. From the outside I look disappointed, but the reality is that I'm just tired, today's result makes me happy. You have to believe me!”.
The Barni Spark Racing Team rider was back at Imola again almost ten years since the last time, when he competed in the Superstock 1000 CIV and FIM Cup: “It seems like a geological era has passed - he joked - I find it really nice and fun to tackle this track with the Panigale V4 R, even if the Variante Bassa is a bit on the limit. We riders don't particularly like it and it becomes dangerous in the event of a crash. Or at Rivazza there are numerous depressions in the asphalt. Riding here is fantastic, it would be even more so once these things were sorted out."
Pressed on the subject, the former MotoGP rider expressed his (harsh) opinion on the further cut of 250 rpm inflicted (by regulation) on Ducati on the eve of the weekend: "This is not the way to balance performance. At the moment we Ducati riders have 900 rpm less than the street version of the bike, and I've also heard that Kawasaki isn't using the extra rpm. I would like to understand how the phantom algorithm works. It's not fair to penalize me or Bassani when Bautista makes the difference. Just as it's nobody's fault if I weigh 30 kg more than Bautista. Could a rule like this be useful? I'm not in a position to speak, although it is a penalizing aspect for riders like me, Redding and Baz. More clarity would be needed...".
