Why Ducati must stick with Petrucci

Danilo Petrucci's first win at Mugello - and the fact Ducati made it a condition of a new deal - is just one of the reasons that mean the Italian factory is obliged to back him again in 2020.

It was around this time last year that Ducati announced that Petrucci would be taking the place of three-time MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo in its works line-up on a one-year contract for 2019.

From that moment the pressure ramped up on the then 27-year-old rider from Terni, who at that stage had just six MotoGP podiums to his name, simply for the fact that he had signed for the factory team.

But there was an extra reason to feel that pressure: with all of the so-called 'top' riders contracted to their respective teams until 2020, Petrucci was informed - literally - that his contract was a trial and that any renewal would have to be earned, based on a series of set objectives.

This weekend's Grand Prix of Catalunya is the moment earmarked by Ducati to start making its decision on who will line up alongside Andrea Dovizioso next season.

Petrucci has complied with everything asked of him: consistent top five finishes, the occasional podium and a first victory in MotoGP. But the sheer performance level of the number #09 is only one reason to assume that Ducati now has no decision to make - that it has to continue for at least another season with its current pairing.

The first factor in Petrucci's favour is the lack of competition. The only real alternative out there is his former Pramac team-mate Jack Miller, who has more than lived up to his inconsistent billing.

So far in 2019 the Australian has failed to score points in as many races as he has finished (three), which is too important a statistic to overlook. And that's without mentioning the fact that his rival for the factory seat has practically double the amount of championship points - Petrucci having 82 to Miller's 42. And though Petrucci has a works team seat, both men have 2019 bikes.

Sticking with 'Petrux', especially considering the numbers he has posted so far, would also further validate the decision taken a year ago by Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, who had to weather a storm of criticism for allowing Lorenzo to leave.

Dovizioso took Petrucci under his wing last winter

In many ways, Petrucci's victory in Italy could be viewed as vindication of Domenicali's strategy - another factor in favour of the argument to extend his stay.

It is no secret that Ducati's quest to win the MotoGP title is focused around Dovizioso and - given the current inadequacies of Yamaha and the precocity at Suzuki - it has identified Marc Marquez as the principal and only obstacle.

In order to take down the dominant force in the recent era and the world champion for five of the last six seasons, Ducati has assembled a multi-pronged attack that Petrucci is a key part of, to take as many points as possible away from the lead Honda.

The more Desmosedicis fighting for a podium position, the better it is for Dovizioso and Ducati, which is why Pramac has a virtually 100% factory machine at its disposal for Miller, and will probably have two in 2020, with Francesco Bagnaia's already assigned.

"There are so many details that can help improve your results, from your training programme to nutrition" Danilo Petrucci

And if all of these reasons weren't enough, there is one other massive indication that the decision about the second red GP20 should be as good as taken: Petrucci's mentor.

Dovizioso took Petrucci under his wing last winter, giving him access to the training programme and support network that had turned 'Dovi' himself from sideshow (one win in eight years from 2008 to 2015) to centre stage (12 wins since 2016).

By following in the footsteps of his compatriot and colleague, by altering his training, nutrition and rest programmes, Petrucci was hoping for the same jump in performance for himself.

Indeed, according to Danilo, the change has been immediate and his improved conditioning and extra stamina on the bike means he is already feeling fresher in the second part of the races, and especially over the final few laps.

"Andrea has helped me a lot over the last few months, even with day-to-day things," explains Petrucci. "There are so many details that can help improve your results, from your training programme to nutrition.

"Dovi recommended that I focus more on the quality of my training rather than the quantity. Last year I was eating very little and training a lot, to the point that I was only relaxing on a grand prix weekend.

"I was also getting up late in the morning, whereas now I am up at six, I have a good breakfast and I go to train. That has had a big impact on my metabolism and I feel much stronger."

The way things stand, nobody in their right mind could dare to upset such a central figure in the Ducati project, by making a switch that would be seen as unthinkable in the eyes of the majority.