Petrucci: I have nothing to lose

After tallying up his second podium of the season at the Dutch TT, Danilo Petrucci believes he is in the ‘best position’ coming into this weekend’s German Grand Prix as he has ‘nothing to lose.’

Petrucci has been running factory machinery this season, after prevailing in an inter-team battle with Scott Redding to receive the sole GP17 handed to the Pramac squad by Ducati.

The early part of the season proved tough, as the Italian was effectively a test rider.

However, in recent races, Petrucci has quickly become one of 2017’s front-running riders with two front row starts and two podiums in the last three events, missing out on victory at Assen by just 0.063 seconds.

53 points off championship leader Andrea Dovizioso and not considered a threat, Petrucci feels this allows him to push harder for top results in races, though admits he will back off to get to the finish if he has to.

“They are all fighting for the championship and it’s good to fight with them, even if I’m quite far from the championship by 25 points from (Dani) Pedrosa in fifth, who is quite far from the first four,” he said.

“I think (I am) in a very good position, because I have nothing to lose and I can try to do everything.

“But, for sure, my main target is to finish the race and we’ll see.”

Petrucci led last year’s Sachsenring race during the wet opening half, but crashed out on the lap 11 while pushing to keep Dovizioso behind him.

Typically considered one of the best wet weather riders, the upgrade in machinery Petrucci has received this year has him hoping Sunday’s 30-lap race will be a dry affair.