The case of Franco Morbidelli in MotoGP is unique in that the more we talk about it with reassuring words at Yamaha and in the paddock, the more there is cause for concern. And for good reason: the Italian-Brazilian should not even be a subject, since he has a contract which guarantees him an M1 within the factory team of the Iwata brand until 2023. But his results are so depressing and the solutions to get back on track are so impossible to find that no one sees this crisis continuing for another season. The person himself does not deny his difficulties and knows that he must go through a total questioning of his approach and his driving style to remedy them. A colossal work which has not even begun... Fortunately, the vice-world champion can count on the moral support of his colleagues from the VR46 to take a breather...
Franco Morbidelli knows that he will be the object of all attention in the last part of this season which will begin to Silverstone, from the first free practice sessions for the British Grand Prix on August 5. While his teammate fabio quartararo is fighting for a second World Champion title at the front of the stage, he is unable to get out of the back of the starting grid, with the same bike. He knows what's wrong, and even more so since it's him. He has already analyzed his situation and provided this expertise: “ I understood one important thing: to be fast on this bike, I have to change. Even though I know that my driving style pays off in certain conditions and with a certain chassis. But I have to change. I ride on this chassis, this bike, in this team, I will change ».
Yes but when and how? And what does he mean by this allusion that his driving style pays off in “certain conditions and with a certain chassis”? Would he like to make other teams aware of his case? A rumor thus begins to spread about contacts the RNF team who will go to Aprilia in 2023, and which he knew under the Petronas banner with Yamaha under the direction of a Ramon Forcada with whom he experienced success and the great consolation of a status of vice-world champion. Given his current situation, we imagine that “Francky” would like to reunite with his chief mechanic from good times.
But we're not there yet. For the moment, we must hold our position, because a premature end of lease with Yamaha can only come from a conventional break requested by the pilot. Will he hold out morally for much longer against a teammate whose performances discredit him with each printout of a timesheet? To help him in this ordeal, he can at least count on the dear VR46 academy in Tavullia.
« You can't become like another driver and I think that's the key for Franco Morbidelli«
Luca marini thus has this thought for him, formulated on GP One since the Misano WDW : " I didn't talk to him much because these are difficult speeches to make. When we don't feel well, we're going through a difficult time, we don't want to be there to bother him. We always prefer to talk about something else and then think about training and competition, without focusing on the negative aspects » begins the half-brother of Valentino Rossi.
Then he continues: “ I don't know, Franco also had a pretty serious injury, he lost a lot of time and a lot of races. Rehabilitation wasn't easy and then the bike changed compared to the one he had in 2020. Yamaha followed Fabio throughout the development because they had him as a rider and he won the races, so that was good. Maybe they don't have the same driving style and therefore he has difficulty adapting. You can try to adapt, to improve, but you can't become like another driver and I think that's the key. In my opinion, Franco was heavily penalized by the injury, but I'm sure he will return to the top. Someone who wins MotoGP races and is second in the world championship has already shown everything in my opinion ". But in MotoGP, you never live very long on your achievements.
