The 2018 MotoGP season will start on Sunday 18 March at the Losail Circuit (Doha)
Road to #QatarGP. Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller rate themselves after official MotoGP winter testing
The testing time is over, the curtain rises on the 2018 MotoGP season and Alma Pramac Racing team is ready for a year full of expectations. One week before the kick off at the Losail International Circuit in Doha (Qatar), the time has come to take stock of the winter activity. After hearing the sensations of Crew Chiefs Daniele Romagnoli and Cristhian Pupulin (read here) and Team Manager Francesco Guidotti (read here), Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller rate themselves after the official MotoGP testing in Malaysia, Thailand and Qatar.
Danilo Petrucci:
My score out of 10? 8- “I am really satisfied with the tests”
I added a minus because of the crash in Qatar even though, honestly, it was a really weird crash. I did a very good race simulation, we were always fast. In all three tests there have been few difficult moments so I’m very happy and this gives us great confidence since there were many problems in the past years winter tests.
PLUS
We made very few changes on the bike and this means that the bike is fine. We were the only ones to do all 22 laps of the race. It will not give us a prize but mentality it has given us a great plus.
MINUS
The crash on the second day of Qatar testing was completely unexpected. A pity because I wanted to finish the tests without crashing. I also arrived deliberately in a good physical shape later Hopefully it will bear fruit during the season.
Jack Miller:
My score out of 10? 5 “Could be better, could be worse”
I am happy with the work we did in the winter tests. We’ve lapped a lot and got a lot of information that allowed us to make steps forward day after day. We have managed to overcome the difficulties that have arisen in every circuit and this is an important aspect. I can say that we have taken the right direction.
PLUS
We were fast enough in each circuit, improving my time day after day and lap after lap. The sensations are very positive: I feel at ease on the bike, I have confidence and I am ready to fight.
MINUS
The two crashes in Malaysia and Thailand were a bit stupid: I could call them rookie mistakes. In Qatar, however, it was a very strange thing. Nobody likes to crash. I crashed once at each test. From now on… “no more anymore”.