Danilo Petrucci will start Su🐻nday's Valencia MotoGP season finale from fourth on the grid after dodging a fiery incident in final practice.

As the♐ Pramac rider pulled up for a practice start at the end of FP4, flames could be seen🎃 licking from the side of his GP18.

Or at least the flames couldꩲ be seen by the fans and marshals...

"Unfortunately the fairing was a little bit too close to the exhaust🔥 and when I tried the practice start I could see everyone waving at me. So I [waved back], then they said 'look, look' and the bike was on fire!🌳 So they were not cheering at me," smiled Petrucci.

"I got the bike back for qu🎶alifyi♋ng. I used the other bike for safety, but it was not a big problem.

"Anyway, I'm happy to be here [fourth]," added the Italian, who had been quickest in the fully wet FP2 and FP3 sessi🦋ons, before𓂃 lapping just 0.1s from pole in a dry qualifying.

"I expected something more, but you never kno🐻w when the track switches from wet to dry, s🉐ometimes you find some surprises.

"But I'm really confident. I'm pushing really 110%. Especially from this mor🎶ning I'm risking a little bit more compared to the other races because I have nothing to lose tomorrow."

Petrucci is prepared to take a risk in order to try and bridge the five-point gap to top satellite rival Johann Zarco, who 🎶will start e𝕴leventh on the grid after a fall in qualifying.

Zarco is in-turn tied on points with Alex Rins, which means Petrucci is one of the riders in with a chance of snatching fifth in the world championship, before stepping up to the factory Duꦜcati team.

"I have nothing to 🌞lose, but for sure I want to finish and have a good race," Petrucci said. "Then, looking at the points, its Johann that has to take care because for me the most important thing is the top Independent, even if fifth [in the title] is interesting.

"But I have to recover five points and it's a lot. So I have to risk somet෴hing because if Johann is clever he can just stay close behind m💛e and it's enough.

"Also🐬, I don’t know the track condit෴ions tomorrow and as always there are many, many riders ready to fight for the victory.

"We are one of them, but I think Marc, Vinales, Rins, Iannone, Dovizioso - there are man🍒y names - can fight for the podium in every weather condition.

"S🐽o as always th🌸ere are too many riders for the podium places.

"The best thing is that I don’t have to go to bed thinking, 'will itꦐ rain ꦚor not?' because every condition will be good for me. I'm quite relaxed that it could be a good race."