Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1125433
MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 6 / MAY 31-JUNE 2, 2019 AUTODROMO DEL MUGELLO / TUSCANY, ITALY P84 iii My Own Race: 9 DANILO PETRUCCI 1ST MOTOGP "I really wanted this victory and when I realized the pace at the front wasn't too fierce, and I was able to manage my rhythm in the leading group, I told myself it was the right time to go for it," said winner Petrucci. "I tried to control the race by staying in the lead to avoid the risk of losing too many positions in the battle, dictating the pace to preserve the energies and the tires for the final rush. I was a bit worried about the slipstream as we entered the final lap, but I managed to brake really deep and find a small gap between Andrea and Marc to retake the lead, then I simply pushed as hard as I could until the checkered flag. A good chunk of this win came thanks to Andrea (Dovizioso), who took me under his wing this winter and gave so many valuable tips. Now we'll keep fighting together for the championship." 46 VALENTINO ROSSI DNF MOTOGP "It was a very difficult weekend because I was always very slow," admitted Rossi. "We expected to be more competitive, so it was difficult to manage. We also made some mistakes in the practice: I made a mistake in FP3, and because of it, I started very far towards the back of the grid. In the race, my pace wasn't fantastic. I tried to overtake Mir, but he tried to defend his position, and unfortunately, we touched. Luckily, we didn't crash, but we went onto the gravel. After that, I tried to push to recover, and I lost the front and crashed, so it's a bad end to a difficult weekend, especially since it's in Mugello." Something is in the water Alex Marquez is drinking—he crushed the field again in Moto2 for his first back-to-back win since 2014. with teammate Thomas Luthi alongside and then Marquez. Luthi led away, and by lap five Marquez had displaced Schrotter for second. That was the start of a decline for the German who would finish eighth, still suffering from foot injuries that have troubled the last two races, and the beginning of three laps of increasing pressure on Luthi, until the Spaniard was able to slip through cleanly.