MotoGP | Qatar Test Day 1: Danilo Petrucci, “Busy day” [VIDEO]

MotoGP 2021 KTM Tech3 Factory Racing – Danilo Petrucci made his debut today in Qatar with the KTM of Team Tech 3 and despite a less than brilliant performance, he said he was confident.

The rider from Terni appeared smiling, even if there is a lot of work to do to adapt the RC16 to his physique. He is in fact the "biggest" of the Austrian manufacturer's riders and he will have to "sew" the new bike for himself.

“Petrux” was impressed by the KTM's great traction, which however forced him to widen in the corners. Here's what the former Ducati rider said at the end of the first day of testing.

Danilo Petrucci Statements Test Qatar Day 1

“It was a busy day, everything was new for me and I was looking for a feeling. We are still far from the top because we need to find a good basic setup that fits my size. It was a day where we tried many things, the engine surprised me positively. The bike brakes very hard and has a lot of traction, perhaps too much! I'll have to get used to it and change my riding style, because it tends to widen as it unloads the front end.”

Danilo Petrucci statements on Qatar Day 1 Test balance

“In the end I did my best time with the used tyre, this means that we are still very far from exploiting the potential that the bike has. With the new tire we didn't improve and two seconds from the top is too much, but it's only the first day with a completely new bike and a new team. I got on well with them and there were many KTM technicians in the garage. At the end of the tests I would like to be close to the leaders, I would like to be ready for the race.”