MotoGP, exclusive, Petrucci: “I had goosebumps when I got on the KTM”

One thing we can be sure of ahead of the 2021 MotoGP championship is that Danilo Petrucci has got his spark back. The uncommunicative Danilo that we saw towards the end of last season, short on motivation and even dejected, has been replaced by the Danilo we know and love. Having moved from Ducati red to KTM orange, the Italian's face reveals a sense of liberation, and this is also clear in his replies as we catch up for a long chat...

With the Sepang tests cancelled and replaced by a second session at Losail, there’s a risk that this year’s calendar will undergo further changes. 

"The news took us by surprise as the Malaysia tests looked certain. We knew it was unlikely we’d go to America for the two GPs, but then the seemingly calm situation in Malaysia worsened. A championship like we had last year is tough, with many races in a few months. I hope there is a more “human” solution for 2021”.

Was the season more physically or mentally challenging?

"Mentally, for sure. We’re used to 18 races plus tests, and staying away from home for long periods, but having one race after another like last year is tough. I struggled with the fact we couldn’t disconnect between one race and the next. And I think team members experienced something similar".

You now begin a new chapter. Tell us about the motivation you bring to KTM, a manufacturer that hadn’t yet won a race when you signed but that now has two wins to its name, thanks to Miguel Oliveira who you replace on Team Tech3. 

"I remember my first visit to the KTM factory, a wonderful day. They took me to eat and then we visited the race department where they were able to work on the engines because they still had concessions back then. They told me they’d hired me so as to lose the concessions, but then not even two months later they won their first race, without me”.

How did you feel?

"I admit I’d have liked to be the first KTM winner, but instead it was Brad Binder. So then I hoped I’d be the first Tech 3 rider to win in MotoGP, but that man was Oliveira... But I still want to win, that’s what I’m here for”.

When we asked Cal Crutchlow the difference between being a satellite rider and a factory rider, he replied with a question: “Do you think Rabat is a worse rider than Aleix Espargaró?”. You’ve raced with both Pramac and Team Ducati, and now you return to a satellite team. 

"When you’re on a factory team, it’s presumed that you should be in front of the other bikes, and winning is almost mandatory. In Pramac, it was a great result to finish ahead of the factory Ducatis, and when we finished a short distance behind, we’d done a good job. This difference in approach changes things: if a “satellite” rider has the same bike as you, you still have to finish in front, because you’re a factory rider. In Ducati and KTM too, the four bikes are identical, the technical support is the same. As for Rabat, I think he was lacking the right support”.

You recently thanked Gigi dall’Igna for telling you early on that you wouldn’t be reconfirmed, as this meant you could look around. 

"I’ve always had a good relationship with Gigi, although he did suggest I move to Superbike rather than carry on in MotoGP a few times. I always took this as motivation to improve and earn my place in MotoGP with my results. When Gigi called me to tell me I wouldn’t be reconfirmed, I hoped to find a factory ride, as that’s what I deserved. And in their opinion, Jack (Miller) was a young guy who deserved an opportunity. It was early May, two and half months from the start of the championship, and so I was able to talk to Aprilia and KTM. We did the deal with the Austrians in one day, which came as a surprise to both me and them. They didn’t want to miss out on an available rider who’d won a race and I was happy too, with a KTM that is the same as the factory bikes”.

Of the six 2021 Ducati riders, who do you consider the strongest?

"Miller I think. The three rookies, Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini, are very talented but they lack experience. Jack is the quickest, he’s got talent and he won’t struggle mentally in certain situations. I think Jack is the ideal rider for Ducati". 

MotoGP: happy birthday Jack Miller, Ducati’s latest (Australian) hope

How do you feel about your years with Ducati? Any regrets?

"I have no regrets. But hindsight means that you start thinking maybe I could have won with Pramac and maybe I could have done more as a factory rider. But I know I gave it my all. What did I learn during my time as a factory rider? That finishing first is not enough in Ducati, that’s the message you continuously receive. It’s a tough attitude, which can be useful in some cases but won’t work with every rider. I got on well in Pramac and spent two years with a bike similar to the factory machines, so I wasn’t a factory rider but I had the updates and a high-level bike, and I reached the podium on several occasions, even fighting for the win”.

Then you won at Mugello. 

"Yes, but I was never the horse you’d bet on, not there and not even one month later, at the Sachsenring, where I had the same points as Dovizioso, something that wasn’t seen in terms of my merits, but rather Andrea’s demerits, as he wasn’t doing well. That made me feel bad. In Ducati they give you the impression you should be proud to ride their bikes. But I think it would be useful to be closer to the riders on a human level. But that’s not Ducati’s style. The relationships with the riders are seen in engineering terms. If something isn’t working, change it. They think their bike is always the best, and if the results don’t back this up, the problem lies with the rider. That’s something they need to improve on I think, but it no longer affects me". 

The Yamaha is not fast along the straight, the Ducati has problems cornering, the Suzuki struggles with the flying lap. And the KTM?

"Considering most of the development has been done by Dani Pedrosa, I was a little worried, because he doesn’t brake hard, although he controls the bike well out of the corners. But they reassured me in KTM, explaining that Pol Espargaró brakes hard like I do. From what I’ve seen on track, the strength of the KTM lies in the engine, but I like the fact that it seems like a complete package. If we consider the final races of last season, the strongest rider was Franco Morbidelli, with the slowest bike. In the end, having the most balanced bike is what counts, as the engine can help you win a race but it’s not everything. In fact, with a powerful engine you might even have problems managing it”.

Do you think you’ll need to change your riding style? Because asking the engineers for the perfect bike is a mistake, and Jorge Lorenzo for example had to completely change his technique aboard the Ducati. 

"Yes, things were tough for Jorge. With the Yamaha he would brake early, immediately release the brakes and had impressive corner speed. But he couldn’t do that with the Ducati, and so he gradually changed. He would crash a lot but in 2018 he ran some impressive races and won with the Ducati too. He continued to brake little, but he’d do it later than he did on the Yamaha. Dovi and I saw his telemetry and we couldn’t understand how he was doing certain things. We were braking later than him, but to stop the bike, we’d brake harder, applying greater pressure on the brake. He was able to make a difference in his braking by using the rear end. I haven’t tested the KTM yet though, I’ve sat on it three times but the bike’s been stationary, and one of those times was in the wind tunnel, with the wheels turning, but the bike wasn’t moving”.

You’re the biggest of the KTM riders, will you have a special fairing?

"I think we’ll find a compromise to suit us all. The regulation states that you can homologate only two aerodynamics packages, to in KTM we’ll have a ‘standard’ one and one for strong wind. They’re working hard in this area”. 

Mike Leitner, MotoGP technical director at KTM, said that to build an efficient bike for a rider of your body size is a challenge. 

"I liked it, because right from our first meeting, when I signed the contract, they let me sit on the bike. After so many years, getting on such a different MotoGP bike gave me goosebumps. A few days ago we were at a centre where they study ergonomics, analysing my riding position, and they were noting down everything I said. I feel that there’s a real desire to do things in the right way. I was supposed to be in the wind tunnel for three hours, but in the end I was there for seven! We tested many things, also in terms of my suit, helmet, fairings, posture. For them, my point of view is important, because the other three riders are young while I have almost ten years of MotoGP experience. I liked this consideration on their part. And now it’s my turn to repay them". 

You felt valued. 

"Yes, that’s the right word”. 

Re Joan Mir’s title, are you one of those who consider last season to be something unique?

"Mir’s title is exactly like any other. Joan has an incredible talent, and he proved stronger mentally speaking. I never saw him overly happy or angry, just fully focused on what he needed to do. And when he needed to win, he won. His Achilles heel was qualifying, and if he’d started further forward more often, he’d have secured the title earlier and with a bigger advantage. He deserved the title”.

At Jerez you said that Marc Marquez was practising another sport altogether - do you think he could win with any bike?

"I don’t know, but he’s not scared to crash. The others, when they’re on the limit, you see that self-preservation kick in, and you think about the fact you might hurt yourself or condition the race or your whole season. Marc doesn’t think like that, he goes for it, always. And he’s the most talented rider in MotoGP".

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP, Marc Marquez runs towards the pre-season