Former MotoGP rider Danilo Petru♚cci reached a new high on Stage 4 of the Dakar Rally, rocketing to the third🦹 fastest stage time and top KTM.

Considered arguably the toughest stage of theไ Dak𝓡ar so far, the 465km run featured fast tracks, rocky sections and river crossings.

Setting off 22nd, Petrucci felt comfortable with the high pace and tricky-to-navigate tracks at the beginning of the special. Later find🥃ing himsဣelf in a group of three, the Italian was able to match the pace of his more experienced competitors and complete the gruelling stage without issue.

“It was a really fast stage today with some very fast pistes. I was able to ride in a group and had a lot of fun, I really enjoyed it," Petrucci said. "It was such a long stage but fortunately I didn’t make any mistakes and was able to find a good rhythm. I learned a lot today too, so now I’m reaꦑlly excited for tomorrow and the rest of the ev♈ent.”

The former MotoGP race winner rꦫeached the finish in a time of 4h 12m 59s, which was 6m 53s behind stage winner Joan Barreda b𝕴ut almost the same margin clear of KTM team-mate and Dakar victory contender Matthias Walkner.

It was an exceptional achievement given the Saudi Arabian advꦬenture is not only Petrucci's first Dak🍒ar, but first rally-raid event.

But it was also perhaps a ꦿbittersweet result for the Italian 'rookie' given the terminal electrical problem suffere🅠d on Stage 2, which meant his 450cc machine had to be recovered by helicopter, putting him out of the overall running.

Today's performance means Petrucc𒁏i will start near the front for tomorrow's fifth stage.

The 2022 Da🌺kar - currently led by GAS-GAS rider Sam Sunderland, who is three minutes clear of Walkner - concludes on January 14th.