Danilo Petrucci says the current 2018 season is “in line” to be his best yet in MotoGP, and has set his sights on finishing the year inside the top five in the standings.
Petrucci's seventh year in the premier class started strongly, with points in all bar the Dutch TT – in which he crashed – and a best finish of second at Le Mans.
Seventh in the standings, a point behind Ducati stablemate Jorge Lorenzo – whom he will replace next year – and just four off of fourth-placed future teammate Andrea Dovizioso, Petrucci comes into the second half of the season with the aim of ending the year inside the top five.
The Pramac rider said: “I don't have any expectations at the beginning of the championship. I always hope the next championship will be the best one of my career.
“This one, at the moment, I'm in line, because it's the best one [so far]. For sure in Assen we lost some points, the only zero of my season at the moment.
“In Sachsenring I recovered some points, but I lost the podium with two laps to go, was a shame.
“It's the second time I've lost the podium on the penultimate lap, and it's not a great feeling.
“Was good, because the race was very, very difficult to manage, but we show our speed and was good.
“We have to continue to finish the championship in the top five, could be a very, very good result and be the best independent rider. We are only a few points from [Johann] Zarco and it's good.”
Petrucci runs the same GP18 as factory counterparts Dovizioso and Lorenzo, enjoying machine parity with the works team last year also.
2017 saw Petrucci often used as a test mule for Ducati, though he insists the situation is “very different” this year, with new parts now given to him for performance purposes.
“The situation is very different. Last year, if you remember, there were some times that I have to stop the bike during the session, especially at the beginning of the season even during races.
“But this year is very different, I never stop for a technical problem. For sure we always have something to try, but like the other two factory riders.
“Not parts already tried and tested, so it's more a development for the performance, not for trying other things.”
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