Francesco Bagnaia secured his best finish of the 2021 MotoGP season with second place at Porti𒀰mao, a result that sees him improve from fourth to second in the riders ch🥀ampionship. 

Following a crash for fellow Ducati rider Johann Zarco whilst battling 💞for second with Bagnaia, and a disappointing outing for Maverick Vinales, the Italian now sits 15 points back from Quartararo. 

Bagnaia had great pace througho🌱ut the race - pace even to match Quartararo at times, but starting from 11th meant any chance of victory was slim which he belie🎐ves was lost ‘yesterday’ after having his pole lap deleted. 

"I think today the maximum result possible was the second position because Fabio in front was with a big gap to recover. In any case, we lost yesterday the possibility🐠 to try and win," added Bagnaia. 

"Today Fabio set a really strong pace and I think no one was expecting a pace like ꧂this. But today the grip was very high and also the tyres were working really well. 

"I think we did an amazing job, and I’m very happy because maybe in a situation like this last year we would no✃🎃t have been here.

"So I improved a ꦍbit my riding style in this situation and I overtoo𒁃k a lot of riders in some corners that I was thinking was difficult to do it."

J𝓡ust like in Qatar,ꦐ the final lap saw a battle for the podium ensue between Bagnaia and Suzuki rider Joan Mir. 

And while the result of Bagnaia coming out on top was the same, he didn’t need the Ducati power to ꧅overhaul the 2020 world champion. 

Mir was hot on the Italian’s gearbox, and looked to be shaping up a move heading into the final corner, however,ꦛ Bagnaia was able to resist the 🧜attempt and instead secure a career matching best second place.  

Asked about the battle, ꦫthe 2018 Moto2 world champion said: "I was thinking that Joan [Mir] was on my rear because I was hearing him so ꦆclose. 

"I was thinking that if I was in front until the last corner it was impossible for ꦑhim to overtake me because our engine is very stro🤡ng. 

"The lastꦿ lap I made a good lap. So I was thinking that it would be harder for ♏him to overtake me."

The two podiums in three races results in this being by far Bag🅘naia’s best start to a MotoGP seas🌌on. 

However, the Italian is yet to taste victory and was asked whether he feels a win is close, and if this start has made him think abo𒐪ut a championship challenge.  

Bagnaia said🃏: "I hope soon! (regarding first win). But I think it is too soon to speak about the championship. 

"This year my objective is to be constant like this everywhere. In this circuit I did it, as last year here I was last🐭. I think we have made a great step in front, but it is too soon to speak about the championship. 

"I’m just hꦺappy to be second at the moment and I would like to continue this ﷽way."