He did it: former Moto2 World Champion Franco Morbidelli became a Grand Prix winner in MotoGP. This in a season which, in six events, revealed five different winners. Last year, riding a latest generation Yamaha, he was dominated by his young rookie teammate Fabio Quartararo. This time he's the one with last year's M1, and he used it very well at Misano. While contemplating the field of victory, he takes stock of the path traveled so far by thanking his mentor Valentino Rossi, but not only…
Valentino Rossi warned: from now on, he will only talk about football with Franco Morbidelli. The same Vale also wonders if he is not going to close the academy since Pecco Bagnaia finished second in this San Marino Grand Prix. A podium that does honor to the label VR46 who had just celebrated, a few minutes earlier, a double in Moto2 with Luca marini et Marco Bezzecchi...
So many names and glory which would not have been possible without the Doctor's ambition to train the next generation of Italian Grand Prix riders... Franco Morbidelli in full awareness: “ Vale is definitely at the top of the list of people I have to thank ", said Morbidely. « I thank him, but it's not enough because he has done so much for me. It's fantastic to race against him. He is without a doubt a legend and the greatest of all time. Having the chance to drive in front of him and beat him is just awesome ».
« I wanted to defeat him and show him that it was the right thing to believe in me. It's a great feeling. I hope I can have more duels with him » adds the Italian-Brazilian. “ It's never easy against him. I still train and spar with and against him at the ranch. We ride small pocket bikes and other machines, but at the World Championship it's a bit different, also because you see the many yellow flags when you pass the stands. You understand that it is there. He gets his mojo from the fans. You can see it and feel it. I told myself I had to relax and pace myself. In the end it went well ».
He adds about this weekend: “ On Friday and Saturday it seemed like Maverick and Fabio were faster. But in the end the race counts. I'm happy to have been the fastest in the race. A MotoGP victory makes a difference in confidence “, declared the winner of Misano.
“Ramon Forcada is a phenomenon”
Then he returns to his legitimate emotion: “ I'm full of emotions, it's full of joy. This will not change for the next 24 or 48 hours. I had a good race pace and I felt strong. I got off to a good start. Vale put me under pressure at the start, yes. I felt good. I felt like I was in control. I rode at my own pace and realized I was taking a lead. I felt good at that moment. Then I did the last ten rounds for myself ».
A moment that will mark him for life: “ these were the ten most important rounds of my career and my life. It was a lot of fun for mei ", said the pilot Yamaha , who had a lot on his mind. “ At that point, it was about the psyche. I could think of a lot of things.”
“I thought about the people who worked with me, who helped me in my career. Only seven years ago I was racing here in the Italian Stock 600 championship. I thought about it. I thank the people who did this, who contributed to my career taking off so strongly. I want to continue like this for many years. It's been a great journey so far ", said Morbidely.
Franco Morbidelli do not forget in his homage the one who is his chief engineer. It is Ramón Forcada, who has already worked with Jorge Lorenzo et Maverick Vinales, a last story that ended badly, so this thank you will undoubtedly warm his heart… “ Ramon is a phenomenon "Says Morbidely.
« He has incredible experience and equally incredible skills as an engineer. He is an incredibly intelligent person. I really enjoy working with him. He is so focused and astute ", Explain Morbidely. " This trickles down to the rest of the team. Our team works very well under his leadership. I feel good under his leadership ».
« He's a great person. He is not so young anymore and should have behavior that might be strange for young people, but the goal is to understand him and his way of thinking. If you can do this, you will discover your world ", said Morbidely.
After six races, Morbidely is now seventh in the World Championship and is only 19 leader points World Championship Andrea Dovizioso. Is the world title possible for the Italian? “ I am a satellite pilot. I'm not aiming for the championship and I don't even think about it ", said Morbidely, dampening expectations. “ I just want to win races and get the best possible result on Sunday. Then I'll see where I am at the end of the season. I do it from race to race because the bottom line is I'm just a satellite driver ". Certainly, but he is also now a Grand Prix winner in MotoGP…
MotoGP Misano1 J3: classification
