Danilo Petrucci fears he has lost a whole day of set-upꦰ work after a 'gamble' backfired during Friday practice for the Japanese MotoGP.

The Pramac Ducati rider, on the podium at Motegi one year ago, began the weekend using a set-up from Austria, in the hope it would suit the similarly h🧸ard-braking character of the Motegi track.

It 🌊didn't. The Italian struggled to 17th place in FP1, then was unable to improve on his best lap due to🅺 a damp track in FP2.

"It's the worst Friday I can rem🌊ember so far, I don’t remember when I was in 17th place before," said Petrucci.

"Unfortunately, yesterday we decided to gamble with the set-up. We thought to use a set🙈-up similar to Austria, because both Motegi and Red Bull Ring are circuits where we have to brake so hard.

"But it didn't work. Absolutely. And this morning we paid the price,🔴 especially because we didn't put any new tyres at the end because we were in so much trouble."

Petrucci went on to set the third fastest time during the damp FP2, but it was of little consolation and he must now hope rain stays away for Saturday's FP3 if he is to💜 have any chance to avoid taking part in Qualif✃ying 1.

"This afternoon the session was not useful, so tomorrow morning we have to do a lot ꩵof things," he said.

"I mean, we tried this sh♑ortcut with the set-up, it was - as I told you - a gamble, but in fact now we have to go back and fix our problem and hopefully go into Qualifying 2 dir🍬ectly.

"Last time I 🍰went in Qualifying 1 was Le Mans, when I was quickest in Qualifying 1, scored a first row and then the podium! I hope things will work out again but I don't know.

"Tomorrow morning we will see."

Petrucci is currently tw🍬o points behind LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow in the battle to be top Independent rider. Crutchlow was second quickest to factory Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso on Friday.