Danilo Petrucci has been on the podium before in the premier class, but Mugello marked his dry weather debut on the rostrum after a stunning ride up into third from P9 on the grid.
Initially content with a solid fourth once in the front group, the Italian then reminded himself where he was racing – and thought the Italian GP was the place to push for glory.
“It’s incredible. If anyone asked me what I would give to be on the podium, I would have said I’d sell my house! It’s unbelievable.” He said
“Yesterday was quite strange because I crashed on the out lap and I thought, ‘what a great morning’. Then I started to push with the other bike and my laptime was lowering, then I finished the bike. In qualifying from Q1 it was tough, but I was more confident compared to the others. I did a good lap but I made a mistake.”
“Everyone said ‘ok but tomorrow you can be fast’…I knew in previous races I’d started badly but was fast at the end. Today I knew I had to stay with the others at the front to have a good race, and when I was in fourth, I said ‘ok, you’re fourth – wait for the last lap…’ but then I thought ‘ok, it’s your home Grand Prix…try’. I passed Valentino, then Maverick, and tried with Dovi – but it wasn’t so easy. Trying to stay with him I finished my rear tyre.” He added
“When Maverick passed me I looked behind if maybe Valentino was further, but he wasn’t…but in the end I managed to stay on the podium and it was a great day for me.”
