Petrucci on standby for frantic finish

Not much is certain about the 2020 MotoGP season at the moment, with the opening four rounds cancelled/postponed due to the coronavirus and growing doubts about the planned start in early May.

The only thing that can be assumed is that, once racing begins, there will be a frantic run of events packed into the time available.

Petrucci on standby for frantic finish

Not much is certain about the 2020 MotoGP season at the moment, with the opening four rounds cancelled/postponed due to the coronavirus and growing doubts about the planned start in early May.

The only thing that can be assumed is that, once racing begins, there will be a frantic run of events packed into the time available.

To make that possible, the three-weekend summer break - still currently listed from July 14-August 6 - would need to be filled, while any events rescheduled from earlier in the season will be taking place in different climatic conditions to normal.

"Being a global virus, the information is the same for everyone," Ducati's Danilo Petrucci, who took an emotional debut MotoGP victory in last year's home Mugello race, told SkySport.it.

"We don't know if it will start in Jerez, perhaps behind closed doors as some say. There are those who say it could even start from Mugello in June because Formula 1 will also start to June."

The Italian added: "I don't know on a physical level what it will be like to have many races at the end of the season, this is something new for everyone.

"And it is clear that we will not take the summer break and will have weather conditions never experienced before in places like Argentina, the USA and Valencia, but nobody knows how we can react."

Petrucci is currently staying at his parents' house in Terni, central Italy, during the lockdown, training as best he can. Physical preparation would normally be tuned to peak for the start of the season, but that now remains a mystery.

"The worst thing is that we don't know when we can start again," he said. "I continue to train but it is clear that we will intensify the preparation gradually."

Petrucci is among the majority of riders yet to sign for 2021 and, like the racing, talks over his future are currently on hold.

"We didn't talk about the contract with Ducati," he confirmed. "Everything will be postponed to July and August, in the middle phase of the championship.

"It is clear that I would like to continue with Ducati, I have been with them since 2015 and I have always wanted to be in the place I am now. I know there are many strong riders that want my bike, but the goal is to stay here for many years.

"The renewal is in my hands; it all depends on my results."

Petrucci, a career-best sixth in last year's world championship, was only 16th quickest at the end of pre-season testing, but delivered an impressive race simulation on the final day:

"We were able to cover the same distance as the race and to remove the doubts that we still had," Petrucci had said at Losail.

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