IN
THE
WIND
P36
Petrucci Renews
With Ducati
D
anilo Petrucci will stay with the factory
Ducati team. As all had expected, the re-
newal of his contract for next year was officially
confirmed on the eve of the German GP, July 7.
Ducati had already indicated this intention,
but at Assen a week ago the deal had not been
finalized. Now rider and factory have agreed to
terms and signed on the dotted line.
Petrucci's position had been heavily rein-
forced by his maiden win at the Italian GP at
Mugello. He had "found great chemistry with
the team" from the outset and also praised the
help from his teammate Andrea Dovizioso, who
had been "like a brother to me."
Since Petrucci signed up at the end of last
season, the pair had trained together, and
Dovizioso had shared other essential aspects of
his overall package.
The deal with Ducati said Petrucci, meant
"both parties wanted to continue this adventure.
But it doesn't mean there is now less pressure.
In fact, it is the opposite; we want to go to the
top three in the championship."
Michael Scott
Tharpe Wins Top
Fuel Harley
T
ii Tharpe out-lasted the 12-rider field in the
2019 Top Fuel Harley-Davidson Champion-
ship round at the NHRA New England Nationals in
New Hampshire, July 5-7.
Sharpe qualified fifth at New England Dragway
but climbed his way to the top of the ladder, hav-
ing faced Randal Andras and Bill Jackson along
the way. He faced off against Rickey House, who
defeated Mike Scott and Tracy Kile in rounds one
and two, in the final event.
House reached a top speed of 219.61 mph,
but it wasn't enough to beat Tharpe, whose ET
was less than a 10
th
of a second quicker than
House's, giving Tharpe the victory. Officially,
Tharpe's 6.393/214.69 mph run bested House's
6.424/219.61 mph run.
Tharpe leads the 2019 Mickey Thompson Top
Fuel Harley Series Standings with 451 points, fol-
lowed by Beau Layne with 410 points, Doug Vancil
with 344, and House with 341. Robert Malloy
rounds out the top five with 299 points. CN
FINAL
1. Tii Tharpe
2. Rickey House
It was never
really in doubt,
but Petrucci will
stay with Ducati
for 2020.
