Six victories in nine races, 34 points ahead of his closest rival and a Moto2 title getting closer before a move to MotoGP, unquestionably, this first half-season Moto2 is placed under the sign of Franco Morbidelli.
Interviewed by Corriere dello Sport, driver Marc VDS spoke about his season as well as his very close ties with Valentino Rossi.
Regarding the first, everything seems to be going smoothly...
Franco Morbidelli : « Nobody expected this much. the reality, however, is so beautiful that it seems like a dream. The pressures? Normally, I am calm. When I'm at home, I'm calm, and when I'm out shopping, I do my job to the fullest. I have no pressure. »
As for the second, he turns out to be much closer than we might have thought, as the boss of the VR46 Riders Academy…
Franco Morbidelli : « I'm flattered to be considered Vale's heir. That's a nice thing to hear. But that's a lie, because there is only one Vale. And there will be no other. Of course, it's not forever. One day it will stop, and there will be pilots who will take its place, but I don't believe with the same magnitude. It's an exception in sport, in life. I see him almost every day, he is always as happy as I am, if not even more so. And seeing him so happy for me makes me even happier. He gives me advice and encourages me to improve, he is always a friend ready to give you a hand. »
For its part, Valentino Rossi also mentioned his pilot: “ I've known Franco for a while now. This is now seven or eight years ago. I believe he is one of our first pilots at the academy. He comes from Rome. More precisely, his father is Roman and his mother Brazilian and it was his father, a former motorcycle racer, who met mine to talk to him about his son. They had settled in Tavullia and were exploring career opportunities. My father told me about it, and that's it. We trained together with Marco Simoncelli at the time and it was from that moment that we became friends. I am convinced: Franco has real potential and talent. He can do a lot and achieve first-rate results. During this season in Moto2, he has already demonstrated all his abilities. When I train with him, he always gives me trouble. So I think that when he is in MotoGP he will be a problem for all his opponents on the track. »
As for his time in MotoGP…
“It’s an achievement for Franco, above all. But we are also happy to see a rider from our academy access MotoGP for the first time. We are proud of it and we are proud of him. IYou have to keep your full attention on the next races. They are much more important than what could happen in the next few years. »
