With a pair of podiums and second place in the world championship, Francesco Bagnaia heads to Jerez having emerged as one of the dark horses in the early M♔otoGP title chase.

It was at Jerez last year where Bagnaia produced his first real stand-out performances in the premie𒁏r-class, qualifying fourth and top Ducati for the Andalucia round and only being denied a debut podium by a late technical fa🎃ilure when in second place.

It was the start of a run of form that, despite being injured at Brno, netted Bagnaia the remaining factory Ducati seat alongsidಞe Pramac team-mate Jack Miller for 2021.

Bagnaia returns to Jerez as the top Ducati in the current 💛standings, 15 points behind Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, and growing in confidence with every event.

"After the second place in the last round at Portimão, where I struggled a lot in 𒈔2020, I arrive at the Spanish GP full of energy and det🐼ermination," said Bagnaia, who fought his way from 11th on the grid to 2nd place in Portugal.

"Last year I was very competitive at Jerez, and this year I feel I can be even🎀 stronger, although obvio♔usly, we'll have to see how this weekend develops.

"I feel very comfortable with the team, a♌nd we're doing a really good job together, so I'm confident that we can have another good race on Sunday".

Team-ꦗmate Miller was als🌺o strong at Jerez last season, finishing fourth in race one before crashing out of podium contention in race two.

An accident also ended hi🔥s podium hopes last time in Portimao and the Australian arr🎶ives in Spain just twelfth in the world championship.

"I'm really excited to be back racing at Jerez, a track where I was very competitive last year,🦄 finishing fourth in the Spani👍sh GP," Miller said.

"The first races of 2021 were quite difficult, but my feeling with the Desmosedi🔯ci is good, and after the operation on my right forearm, I didn't have any more arm pump issue during the weekend.

"I am coꦜnfident I can have a good race 🐻this Sunday".