MotoGP Indianapolis, Free Practice: Danilo Petrucci “I have to improve by 5-6 tenths to reach the Honda Open”

Danilo Petrucci the Indy weekend starts with the 20th fastest time. The Terni native, riding his Art from the Octo Iodaracing team in these free practice sessions, also had to become familiar with the track which received, last winter, a new asphalt as well as the harmonization of two curves.
At the end of the first day Danilo Petrucci worked on his ART in search of an ideal set up to tackle the track created in the oval of the historic "500 Miglia".

“The lap time is actually not bad even if the others went very fast today – said Danilo Petrucci – more than anything it's the position that I don't like very much, we still have to work to recover those six-seven tenths that would allow us to fit in among the Honda Opens. They have a little more in terms of the engine and on this track it is an aspect that matters a lot due to the many accelerations there are. In this sense, we need to tidy up a bit even if we lowered the time a lot between the first and second free practice sessions today (about nine tenths, ed.). Now we're working on a new set up, because we need more stability. We have some solutions in this regard, tomorrow we will see if we can recover something. The track is new and in the second session the grip improved even if the big step forward seen in the times was due! or more importantly as the bike settings progress between one session and another. As for me, I expected to do a little better, but I always ran with the hard tire and only put the soft one on at the end and I didn't make much use of it. If it were to rain, perhaps I would be at an advantage, but I prefer to settle down in the dry because we don't miss it much."