Despite a superb ride to claim third from ninth on the grid in WorldSBK race one, Michael Rinaldi🍌 was left slight🍷ly disappointed by the overall performance at San Juan. 

A mistake in Superpol꧅e qualifying left the Italian out of position after having shown top five pace throughout Friday free practice. 

But, Rinaldi quickly made his way to sixth before getting the better of Andrea Loc♑atelli, the man he was tied on points with heading into the event.

Rina🌳ldi then made light 𒐪work of both Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes, however, Sunday’s races proved more difficult due to another error in the Superpole race. 

Rinaldi eventually made his way from eighth through to fifth in race two, which me♒ans an eight point gap has now been created between he and Locatelli in their battle for P4 in the championship. 

Speaking after the race, Rinaldi was happy about the points situation, but not the lack of grip he suffered with: "For sure, for t🥀he championship it is good points because I’m fighting for fourth place with Locatelli. But, we compromised our 🎉weekend with qualifying in the Superpole race. 

"When the track has more grip we are not able to get the acceleration to go faster. Today I made my best lap of the weekend on the 18th la💎p of the race which is for sure good for the race, but we need to understand how to use the grip when the track or the tyre offers it. 

"But we are not in the right way at the moment to solve t❀his problem. For sure, we are putting all our effort to try to understand how to be faster." 

While fourth place is Rinaldi’s goal for the remainder of 2021, the factory Ducati rider has already shifted some of his focus towards 2022 with ‘a lot of work’ sti♛ll n♌eeding to take place.

"I wa⛄nt to arrive fourth in the championship and it’s so important for the team as well," added Rinaldi.

"So, my goal is that, but also this year is a year where we need to work for the next year. Unfortunately we still h🐠ave a lot of work toꦺ do to improve our weak points."