Petrucci: Sachsenring a 'good opportunity, we can be fast'

Access to the latest KTM chassis combined with the lowest top speeds of the season means Danilo Petrucci views this weekend's German MotoGP as a 'good opportunity'.

The Italian has claimed a best finish of fifth place during his seven races so far for the Tech3 team, but that came in the rain at Le Mans and the former Ducati rider's best in the dry is a more modest ninth at Mugello.

But while the new KTM chassis is a help in cornering, top speed is Petrucci's biggest concern at present - something that will be less important than usual in Germany, the shortest track on the calendar.

“I am very positive about Germany, because it’s a track, that I always liked and which suits me well, mainly because there are not many slow corners," said Petrucci, who finished fourth as a Ducati rider in 2018 and 2019.

"It’s a small track, so we have no long straight, which makes it a bit easier for us. I think we can be really fast there and it’s a good opportunity to show our progress this weekend.”

With MotoGP not visiting the Sachsenring since 2019, team-mate Iker Lecuona has never ridden a premier-class bike at the track, which was not part of the shortened 2020 season.

“I’m really looking forward to Sachsenring. This weekend, I want to continue with my performance. We improved a lot during the last races and are able to fight for the top 10 consistently now," said the Spaniard, who has a best finish of ninth in the wet and eleventh in the dry so far this season.

"I like the track in Germany a lot, so I expect we can have a very good race weekend. For sure, the main objective is to keep our way, as after Barcelona I felt pretty strong.”

Both Tech3 riders are currently competing for the remaining 2022 MotoGP seat alongside Remy Gardner.

Team boss Herve Poncharal hinted that a decision could be made during the summer break, which follows the back-to-back Sachsenring and Assen events.

“We are now entering in the final straight of the first part of the season and clearly, the two upcoming back-to-back races prior to the summer break area going to be very important as we know the whole grid is preparing its 2022 line up," Poncharal said.

The Frenchman added that the target for his riders will be to get closer to factory riders Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira, the Portuguese taking KTM's first win of the season last time out in Catalunya.

"We can’t wait to start Friday’s FP1 on that great Sachsenring circuit and hopefully we will be able to be closer to the Factory riders, Miguel and Brad, which is always our target," he said.

"I have to repeat that it was a great emotion to see Miguel winning the Catalan GP aboard his KTM RC16, so let’s try to be close to him. That’s our mission!”