The 2021 MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal saw Danilo 💖Petrucci score his first points for Tech 3 KTM with a 13th place finish at Portimao. 

It was a relatively quiet race for the former D🗹ucati rider who gained five places in total during the race after qualif🌞ying 18th. 

However, the Italian was unable🐼 to make his way past Avintia Esponsoroma Ducati rider Luca Marini in th🐓e closing stages who slipped down the order as the race went on.

Petrucci was slightly 𝓰fortuitous to claim a points position due to the crashes in front of him, but nonetheless, it’s a positive result heading into a stretch of the season ꧙where the 30 year-old has been strong in the past.   

"To be honest, the race was not too♐ interesting for me. I was fighting and made some ꦑpasses, but at the end, I couldn’t pass Marini," said Petrucci. 

"We are still not in our best form, we need to improve our setu🐲p. I a꧒m gaining a lot of experience though. 

"At least, we got some points and this is important for the♕ mood. I would like to thank all my team, because they are doing a great job.&🌺nbsp;

"For me it’s still a new experience, but𓃲 I know we have🍎 the potential to be closer to the front, but for this we have to work a lot. We have some ideas for Jerez and I’m looking forward to racing there."

Given we witn🧔essed the closest MotoGP race ever the Doha Grand Prix, the gap from race winner Fabio Quartararo and Petrucci of +29.836 seconds at Portimao was quite staggering, and not something they will want to see too often.