MotoAmerica, Road America J2: Danilo Petrucci at the photo finish in race 1

De Paolo Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com

Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) taunted by Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha Westby Racing) at the finish of Race 1 at Road America. Jake Gagne (Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha) falls and recovers fifth place.

What bad luck for Danilo Petrucci ! In race 1 at Road America, the Ducati rider fought like a lion, despite his poor physical condition. On the finish line, he tries to overtake Mathew Scholtz but the photo finish punishes him. It is the first victory of the season for the South African who, after seven races, leads the MotoAmerica with a single point lead over Danilo Petrucci. Jake Gagne crashed on the first lap and recovered to fifth.

Jake Gagne misses out
Danilo Petrucci finally started from third place on the front row, with Jake Gagne on pole. Approaching turn five, on the straight, the Yamaha came into contact and the two braked too late, finding themselves straight on the asphalt loophole. Petrucci remained on his wheels, returning to the track in fifth position, while Gagne lost his balance on the gravel part of the loophole, and fell. He started very last, but managed to climb back to fifth place at the end of the twelve laps. Gagne was on a three-game winning streak.

Mathew Scholtz hard to crack
Halfway through the race, Petrucci was back in the game for the win, when the Yamaha of Cameron Petersen suddenly fell, putting the South African, at that time in the lead, out of the game. Petrucci et Scholtz had to play for the win. Down the straight the Ducati is a missile, but the Yamaha had a small advantage on the twistiest part of Road America. Verdict of the last lap: Scholtz came into the fifth corner strong, and tried to get rid of Danilo with a block pass. Coming out of the last corner like a rocket, the Ducatista tried his luck under the flag, but it didn’t go over for him: he only needed fifteen thousandths of a second. The podium was completed by Hector Barbera on the BMW.

” I suffered a lot “.
On the podium, Danilo Petrucci had a gloomy face, a little out of disappointment, but also because he was suffering from the aftermath of the terrible accident that occurred after arriving at Virginia International Raceway. Fifteen days ago, Mathew Scholtz he himself had somehow managed to defend the position. “The last few days have been difficult, I hurt all over and I returned to Italy to try to get back on my feet “, commented the former MotoGP rider. ” At the beginning with Gagne, we went a little too far, and we both ended up outside. The pace was very high, and even though I didn’t feel good, I tried to win, it was close. »

Revenge Sunday afternoon, at 10:10 p.m.