Petrucci still searching for limit on the front, finds setup improvements

After a difficult pre-season test and opening MotoGP race in Qatar last weekend, Danilo Petrucci enjoyed his best day with the Austrian team during FP1 and 2 of the Doha Grand Prix.

The Italian finished FP1 inside the top ten which was the first time he’s accomplished that feat with the team.

But while there were improvements made by Petrucci, the former Ducati rider eventually missed out on the top ten during FP2 by half a tenth, which all but means he will need to qualify through Q1. 

Much of the work completed by Petrucci so far this season has been about adapting to the KTM with his weight and size.

This has led him to tinkering with the different areas of the bike on a consistent basis. 

Asked specifically why the continuous changes, Petrucci said: “It’s a matter of setup. I weigh a little bit more than other riders so I have to adapt the bike to my style. 

“I wanted to have more stability in general, in braking and entry of the corner, so we worked a lot on this. 

“Some very good areas that we have to keep are the traction, and we have to continue to use this positive area of the bike, but yeah we are still not where we want to be, but we are getting closer. 

“For sure both me and Miguel did a very very good lap, but not enough to be in the top ten. 

“But I need to get used to the bike to discover the limit and then we can, let’s say fight for the top positions.”

Petrucci was not able to take advantage of last weekend’s race and further develop a feeling with the bike due to a lap one incident that led to a crash. 

With all the changes that have happened so far, the 30 year-old has descirbed his day as being ‘happy, but not satisfied’. 

“Every session since day one of testing I never used the same bike. I always try something different and also for KTM it is the first time they try something really different because they never had a rider like me with my weight, not a particular riding style,” added Petrucci.  

“I’m happy, but not satisfied so we have to continue like this. We have some good improvements. 

“We still need to improve in some other areas, but let’s say for today it is our best day so far in this track.