Danilo Petrucci says the new aerodynamic package Ducati introduced on his Pramac GP18 during Friday MotoGP practice at Brno had “no negatives”.
Ducati has long been MotoGP's most innovative factory with its aero concepts, and has once again unleashed a new design, which bears a striking resemblance to the outlawed winglets.
Test rider Michele Pirro tried it first during a private outing, and both Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo are expected to run it on Saturday. If so, this will mean the Italian marque has used up its one aero update permitted during a season.
Second fastest after Friday's running, Petrucci admits the new fairing has no “day and night” differences, but could find no downsides to it.
“It was good to try a very, very new part today,” said Petrucci when asked about the new fairing.
“This morning the situation wasn't so good, but maybe we put the soft tyre on and it was too soft, and this gave us some problems.
“But in the afternoon, we made some adjustments and it was okay, especially the race pace. With the hard tyre we feel good.
“The new fairing is not a difference between day and night, but it's got some positive points and no negative points. So this is good for us.”
The heat wave which has engulfed most of Europe saw extreme track temperatures on Friday, with Petrucci – one of the heaviest riders on the grid – once again battling wear issues across race distance.
“We are struggling, as in the previous races, with tyre consumption and this makes it a different bike from the first and last laps.
“In the first lap everything is perfect, but by lap 10 you say 'this is not my bike'. It's a problem for everyone.
“I'm happy about today, tomorrow we have to follow this way. But on Friday, like always, some riders are hiding back.
“[Andrea] Dovizioso, for example, started with a used tyre this morning and put a hard rear tyre on in the end, so he's very fast.
“[Marc] Marquez didn't try a new tyre, so they are riders that are hidden, and tomorrow they'll appear. I would be grateful to finish on the podium.
