Danilo Peꦍtrucci has made a solid if unspectacular start to his factory Ducati team career, with sixth-place finishes in the opening t🏅hree rounds.

That's enough for a creditable fifth in the world championship heading into this weekend's opening Europea😼n round at Jerez, but a one-year contract means the Italian has a seat to defend against the likes of Pramac's COTA podium finisher Jack Miller.

In terms of Petrucci's ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚrostrum chances, the #9 feels the Jerez circuit is more suited ๊to his riding style than the previous flyaways.

He missed out on the Jerez podium ꦜby only 0.4s last year - after Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso collided ahead of him - then was fifth fastest (+0.164s) and top Ducati at Novemꦚber's test, since when there has been substantial resurfacing.

"The Jerez track, on ꦕpaper, is more su🍨ited to my riding style compared with the first three circuits we've raced at so far," said Petrucci.

"During the winter tests I was fast there, even though track conditions will probably be very different this weekend. Also, I was able to fight for the podium until basically the very e𓆉nd of the race last year, so overall I'm confident.

"So far we've collected important▨ points and stayed in the top five in the Championship, but obviously I want to be stronger in race conditions. This break was helpful to recharge and pinpoint some small items to imp🌌rove over the weekend.

"We're working on 🐼details that can make a big difference, so I can't wait to head out to the track."

Team-mate Andrea Dovizioso leads thღe world championship after 1-3-4 results in the races so far.