Petrucci “scared” of first lap fights wrecking race strategy

Danilo Petrucci feels his front row start for the Qatar MotoGP could be vital to avoid the opening lap scraps for the top positions as he looks to conserve his tyre life for the race distance.

The Pramac Ducati rider has secured a front row start for the 2018 MotoGP season opener alongside pole-sitter Johann Zarco and Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez having converted his impressive free practice pace in qualifying.

Petrucci “scared” of first lap fights wrecking race strategy

Danilo Petrucci feels his front row start for the Qatar MotoGP could be vital to avoid the opening lap scraps for the top positions as he looks to conserve his tyre life for the race distance.

The Pramac Ducati rider has secured a front row start for the 2018 MotoGP season opener alongside pole-sitter Johann Zarco and Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez having converted his impressive free practice pace in qualifying.

Despite his positive performance in qualifying Petrucci concedes it may mean little in the race unless he can maintain the performance in his Michelin tyres for the full distance having suffered with the issue at times during the 2017 campaign.

Petrucci has taken steps to address the problem by slimming down to lighten his combined rider and bike weight plus adopting a smoother riding style and throttle control with the GP18.

“I am a little bit scared for the first lap because many riders will want to stay in the top positions and will have to do some overtakes to remain in the top group,” Petrucci said. “This means that you will use up a lot of the rear tyre.

“Managing the rear tyre tomorrow will be key and in the second half of the race I hope to stay in the top group but if you check all the names and the pace it will be difficult [to predict].

“My target was to be on the first two rows because I know that tomorrow seven, eight or even nine riders will be in the front group so I need to be in the front as much as possible as I did one good start in three [practice starts]. The start is not easy for me.”

Petrucci agrees with both Marquez and Cal Crutchlow that Dovizioso is the rider to fear with the strongest race pace but has refused to rule out almost half the MotoGP field who could be running in the pack at the front.

“Dovizioso is the stronger one because he is able to manage the tyre until the end and I think he will have more,” he said. “I cannot say there will be a weak or slower rider so it is impossible to predict the race tomorrow.”

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