Team orders in MotoGP are always a tricky subject, and the situation surrounding Franco Morbidelli in the 2024 title battle promises to make it even more complex. With his Pramac Ducati teammate Jorge Martin in the thick of the championship battle against close friend and VR46 Academy colleague Francesco Bagnaia, Morbidelli could play a crucial role in the final races if he continues his recent run of pushing up the front lines…
The three pilots – Martin, Bagnaia, a Morbidely – all race Ducati GP24s under direct contract with the Italian brand, but changes are imminent. Martin is preparing to join Aprilia next year, while Pramac, the current team of Morbidely, will pass by Yamaha . bagnaia et Morbidely, for their part, will remain faithful to Ducati, with Morbidely joining the team VR46.
Until recently, Morbidely struggled to find his rhythm after an injury affected his pre-season. However, his return to form was marked in the San Marino Grand Prix, where he signed his first front row on the starting grid since 2021 and took his first podium in three years, just 1,8 seconds behind the two championship leaders.
Franco Morbidelli: “ we will have to think about what is best for Ducati, and of course for them too »
Faced with the prospect of being directly involved in the title fight while juggling friendships and contracts, Morbidely recognizes the complexity of the situation: “ If we continue like this, there will be races where we will be there with them, while they fight for the championship. We will have to think about what is best for Ducati, and of course for them too. It will be difficult to make the right choice, but we will discuss it all together and try to make the right choice »
After several difficult seasons with Yamaha , this new dynamic offers a welcome challenge for Morbidely, which ends on a positive note: “ I would really like to have this kind of problem... I hope to have this kind of problem in the future! ". The current situation in MotoGP is promising for Ducati but complex to manage. The coming months will be decisive to see how the Italian manufacturer will meet this challenge. Franco Morbidelli Will it play an unexpected central role in this already difficult equation to resolve?
