The Marc VDS team will continue its journey in MotoGP in 2017, for a second season which will be experienced with Honda and the same two drivers as last year. Or a Jack Miller with an official HRC contract and winner of the 2016 Dutch Grand Prix, accompanied by Tito Rabat, former Moto2 World Champion. But the latter had a disappointing first campaign among the elite. The Spaniard must do better and it is his boss Michaël Bartholemy who warns him. Especially since he already has his replacement: Franco Morbidelli.
In an interview at speedweek, the Belgian conductor of Marc VDS Racing initially wanted to be reassuring about Esteve Rabat : " It's true that he never performed well in 2016. But we agreed that he deserved a second chance. So we kept it. And we will take stock in the middle of the 2017 season ».
An assessment that should fit as closely as possible with its roadmap: “ Rabat must be in the points at each Grand Prix. Otherwise… » Otherwise, it will be replaced. And its replacement is found in the brand's Moto2 structure, made up of Franco Morbidelli andAlex Marquez. So the two brothers Márquez in 2018 on a Honda? Think again. It is towards the Italian that the heart of Bartholomew balance.
«We are doing a good job at the moment in Moto2. We train our pilots for the highest level. With Franco Morbidelli, we bet on a driver that no one had spotted, but in 2016, he had a convincing second half of the season. Franco could be the contender for MotoGP machine in 2018 ».
Franco Morbidelli was born in Rome 22 years ago but is based in Tavullia, where a certain Valentino Rossi. The latter has not hidden his desire to one day integrate him into his VR46 team. Here he is, therefore, the object of all considerations, to the great displeasure of a Alex Marquez who sees himself left as a second-rate driver in his team even before the start of the season.
Morbidely finished fourth in his 2016 Moto2 season with 213 points and eight podiums, including five taken at the end of the last five Grands Prix.
