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MotoGP Catalunya: Petrucci happy with third consecutive podium

Factory Ducati man Danilo Petrucci said he was happy with his third consecutive, but called the day bittersweet as his team-mate was taken out of the race by Repsol Honda’s Jorge Lorenzo on the second lap at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 

The Italian benefitted from the crash on the second lap of the race which saw Lorenzo take out not only Dovizioso, but also the Monster Energy factory Yamaha duo of Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi. That promoted Petrucci from sixth to second in the early stages, ahead of Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo.

The Italian held Rins and Quartararo behind him, before a mistake from Rins saw him drop down, allowing Quartararo to have a run at him, eventually getting past and holding on for second place.

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Petrucci however said he was happy with his podium after struggling with rear grip through the weekend.

“I’m really happy about this third position,” said the Italian. 

“As Marc said I wasn’t one of the fastest this weekend, unfortunately. We’ve been struggling since Friday morning with lack of traction on the rear and a lack of grip. But anyway I did my best to solve the problem.

“I did a good start, I was there around fourth or fifth position, and Lorenzo attack me very aggressive. He was trying to pass and then at turn ten I was in the middle of the crash.

“I brake hard and I say okay I have to stop the bike and at the same moment Valentino go past me very, very fast and Lorenzo the same, he was carrying the speed inside the corner and I touched and I don’t know who was at fault, but I saw Maverick and then Dovi crash, and I was just thinking to close the corner. 

“Then was Marc in front, I tried to stay with him, it was a second gap. I tried to stay with there but Marc was faster by three or fourth tenths a lap."

He continued: “I struggle a lot with the rear traction; I had Alex and Fabio pushing me from the back. I knew Alex was fast, he tried to overtake me sometimes, but the two times at the end of the straight, I always was able to respond. But then at turn four he went to the inside and we touched very, very hard. Then I said okay, maybe will help me to go through, but then I saw him really in trouble and I say okay were in the same boat, so I decide to attack him again.

“At the end Fabio was really, really fast. I stayed there but he was a little bit faster around the track and with three laps to go I said third position is good, also for the championship is good and I’m really happy.”

After Mugello, Petrucci said he will now do all he can to help Dovizioso in the World Champion. However, after his DNF today, Petrucci is now sat just four points behind his team-mate in the World Championship. When asked about it, Petrucci said: “For sure for the team it’s been bittersweet as Dovi crashed, unfortunately and Marc is now really, really far in the Championship.

“But Assen is a track I like. Last year unfortunately we had some trouble, but in 2017 we were fast all weekend, in the rain, in the dry, so I’m really looking forward to going there.”

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