The future of Franco Morbidelli in MotoGP in general and at Yamaha in particular seems to be becoming clearer as by default, to the great relief of the person concerned. His name was mentioned during the press conference before the WSBK meeting in Misano by Andrea Dosoli, senior executive of a Yamaha Europe branch who would put him on his R1, to counterbalance the disappointment of having failed to retain its flagship driver Toprak Razgatlioglu for the coming seasons. But Fabio Quartararo's teammate is increasingly certain of his return to the M1, despite still lackluster results.
At the end of this month of June, which will see no less than three Grands Prix and therefore six races, the die will be cast for those who are not yet certain of their future at the end of this year. Because we will then enter a long summer break which will lead to a fast-paced end to the season. Plans for 2024 and beyond are therefore being decided now.
Among these pilots in a precarious situation, we note a Franco Morbidelli, official pilot Yamaha . Before the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello next weekend, the Italian-Brazilian can only oppose to his employer Iwata the exception of the meeting at Termas de Rio Hondo to a general set of disappointing performances for almost two years to be reappointed to his post. It's meager, but the more time passes, the more Morbidely is sure of himself...
Addressed exclusively to Motorsport during last month's French Grand Prix, he says he still feels supported by Yamaha and even much more now, since he is inhabited by this feeling that he has taken a step forward since the first half of 2022… “ When I talk to the Japanese and I talk to the guys on my team, I really feel that the confidence is much more there. Especially after the last part of last season and this start of the season”.
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Franco Morbidelli: “ until you are not sure about your future, you always have a little doubt, but not that much »
He pursues : " if I continued the same way as at the start of last season, I would definitely panic and think about what I'm going to do. But I'm actually very, very confident in my abilities now. The adversities I experienced last year made me a better person and a better driver, a better athlete and a better professional. That's what I wanted to do: I wanted to step up my game and give battle to the guy which gives the best results with the package I have ».
A “guy” who is none other than his teammate fabio quartararo, and which is all the easier to identify as Yamaha only has two machines left on the MotoGP starting grid. A challenge that Morbidely plans to raise in 2023: “ It seems like that’s happening this year and that’s the positive of this season. It is the thing that doesn't take away my confidence and doesn't make me doubt my future because I know the situation is difficult and I know how focused and good you have to be to deal with the other guys in this situation ».
He ends after having carefully assessed the situation: “ so, until you are unsure about your future, you always have a little doubt – but not that much. I have to keep attacking because it's really hard to survive, and surviving really takes a lot of effort. I gotta keep the energy high ».
Furthermore, given the level of performance currently displayed by the Yamaha , no one is rushing to go and pilot it. Finally, Morbidely is a member of the VR46 academy of a Valentino Rossi which Lynn Jarvis dreams of bringing him back under his colors as boss of his satellite team. It would therefore be wrong not to treat Morbidely with the respect due to his academic background…
