Whatever anyone says, at Le Mans, Franco Morbidelli comes back strong. In Jerez, he was already faster than at the start of the season, inevitably gloomy in comparison to that of his teammate Jorge Martin at Pramac. But for some time now, he seems to be getting used to the Ducati Desmosedici GP24 he has. It's good to take, and this Friday, even if he is still far from the lead in eighth position, it will be directly sent to Q2. Nowadays, with the Sprint, it is almost a prerequisite for a good weekend.
Franco Morbidelli is a happy man. This eighth position at the end of the Practice guarantees him a place in the good group, where many riders – including Ducati employees – have failed. « It was a good day. We did a good job with the tires this morning, and this afternoon we were able to put in a more than decent flying lap. » he said to the microphones of GP One. A tour that means a lot for the Italian. “It's far from trivial for me, because I've never been good on a timed lap. I consider our effort important » he added humbly.
🔊🔊 @FrankyMorbido12 flies to the #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/sXfgHlTp2e
— Prima Pramac Racing MotoGP (@pramacracing) March 6, 2024
Here, where his career took a turn following the aggravation of an injury during 2021, he can bounce back in the most beautiful way. “We worry about everything. You will have to do good qualifications, and then a good Sprint. Regarding the erasers? The soft tire was quite consistent, for me as for others” he said about his tires, which represent, once again, a huge question mark.
Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Not long ago, he was the victim of a very serious accident on the hills of Portimao during winter testing. It is for this reason that he can be satisfied with this great effort. “ I'm happy with our speed. I never dared to make any plans following this accident, and also, because of the lack of confidence generated last season. I don't set goals for myself. But what happens is positive » he concluded.
Do you think he can return to the elite like in 2020? Tell us in the comments!
Practice ranking at the 2024 MotoGP French Grand Prix:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
