That Fabio Quartararo totally dominates his subject at Yamaha is a situation that we can understand since we are still talking about the reigning World Champion. During the last Italian Grand Prix, he once again showed his full potential by being a permanent threat to Pecco Bagnaia aboard a Ducati that the entire paddock agrees is more advanced than his current M1. But the gap that the Frenchman is widening with his distinguished colleagues is a matter of constant humiliation which ends up raising questions. These are, let us remember, Andrea Dovizioso, former three-time vice-world champion during the splendor of Marc Marquez, and Franco Morbidelli, box neighbor of the tricolor and former 2 vintage Moto2017 World Champion as vice -2020 MotoGP world champion. And in the national territory of Mugello, they were below everything.
The press releases follow one another and are similar the day after the Grands Prix for Franco Morbidelli et Andrea Dovizioso. And given the latest results from the eighth round of the season in Italy, there is no reason for this to change. At Mugello, they passed the bottom-touch stage. They are now sinking into the abyss. Judge for yourself: Morbidely, teammate of fabio quartararo, i.e. official driver Yamaha , finished 17th, more than 20 seconds behind the winner bagnaia on Ducati after 23 laps. Realizing the disaster of Dovizioso, it's like drinking the chalice down to the dregs: 20th out of 22 classified, more than 31s behind the same Pecco Bagnaia.
To further darken the picture, we must remember that the two Italians received the coup de grace of Darryn Binder, rookie coming directly from Moto3, equipped with an antique M1 version 2019 and who reassembled them and passed after having still served a so-called “long lap” penalty. Don't throw any more away, the cup is full... However, Morbidely et Dovizioso still manage to comment on the unjustifiable: “ Starting from 23rd position wasn't easy, but I caught the drivers in front of me who were fighting. I was in 16th position. Unfortunately, I could not enter the group in the fight for points. Darryn Binder was behind me throughout the race, but then used my slipstream to pass me at the finish. But overall, we've made some improvements. We will try to improve other things in Barcelona ».
How much longer will Andrea Dovizioso, Franco Morbidelli but also Yamaha put up with this?
Et Andrea Dovizioso, what's he saying ? “ I wasn't fast in the corners. I didn't really have the pace from the first lap, so I couldn't stay with the two Yamahas because that was the plan. I am very disappointed, I wasn't able to try the hard front tire in free practice, maybe it was better because others used it. In any case, I was trying to adapt to Yamaha riding, which is far from ideal ". To the question of retirement at the end of the year, Dovi replies that it is not current while Franco Morbidelli clings to his lease signed with Yamaha until 2023.
We will recall that RNF extension will go under the flag Aprilia next year, which should naturally resolve the case of Dovizioso. For Morbidely, that will be another story. But even if formerly at Honda, currently at KTM and at Aprilia, a leader has emerged who dominates his fellow clansmen of the brand, never has the gap been so blatant and desperate. If Lynn Jarvis says he can do it with two motorcycles, he must understand that doing it to this extent with just one rider would make the policy pass Honda seen so far at all Marc Marquez as a collective success. That is to say.
Result of the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix at Mugello:
