In Malaysia, when he learned that he was finally Moto2 world champion, Franco Morbidelli did not explode with joy. First of all because, even if he was at the top of the championship, the loss of his opponent is always a little frustrating. But also because it is not in the nature of man, who always invariably wears a slightly melancholy smile. An attitude to which his atypical career is obviously no stranger…
Franco Morbidelli was born on December 4, 1994 in the San Giovanni district of Rome, to a Roman father, Livio, and a Brazilian mother, Christina, originally from Recife.
Livio has more than dabbled in motorcycle racing, since he was Italian vice-champion in 80cc and 125cc in the 80s.
Having then opened a workshop, he built a first Minimoto for his son Franco, then two and a half years old!
What followed were years of relentless motorcycle riding which were not his best memories…
“He taught me that everything takes a lot of effort, no matter the activity. If you want to do something, well, do it, but make sure you do it to your fullest, seriously. My best childhood memories are other: the Brazilian festivals in Rome with my parents, all these peaceful people, the music... And a few months in Recife, with my mother's family, who was not rich, but we spent the barefoot days on the beach playing soccer. »
Franco grew up and, at the age of 10, moved to Babbucce, following the will of his father who sold his workshop and is convinced that only this region that surrounds Tavullia and Pesaro can make him a champion, as suggested to him Graziano Rossi that he has known since his years as a pilot…
“He bet everything on me.”
Graziano Rossi then invites Franco to train with his son's band in a quarry, "la Cava", a stone's throw from Tavullia...
" Not easy. We were running on weekends after moving the bulldozers.”
In the middle of the dust, Franco discovers “Vale’s humility and dedication to coaching.”
The feeling has passed, it will only get stronger over the years…
In Pesaro, Franco meets Guido Mancini, retired Italian 50 cc champion, who collaborated with Loris Capirossi, Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso et Roman Fenati.
The one nicknamed “the magician” convinced Livio Morbidelli to give his son a test ride in 125 cc, on the Mores circuit, in Sardinia. Far from prying eyes, Franco therefore familiarized himself with the Mancini with a Rotax Grand Prix engine.
“Franco was so small that when he stopped in the pits we had to catch the bike on the fly because it was difficult for him to touch the ground, but he already knew what to say and what to do to better pilot it: at 11 years old, he was mature. His father had prepared him well. »
A second test takes place with an Aprilia 125cc, in the presence of Alex Gramigni (125cc world champion in 1992 with Gilera. See Interview with Carlo Pernat) and a certain Lorenzo Baldassarri. Franco breaks the track record and impresses everyone…
Meanwhile, in 2005, the young Italian continued Minimoto racing (winner of the regional championship and contender in the national Junior B), then launched into Enduro in 2006, winning the regional title.
People began to notice him and talk about him, so much so, something unimaginable today, that he signed a contract with the team Pramac d'Antin of Grand Prix to train him and bring him to MotoGP. Franco was only 11 years old!
Franco Morbidelli : " I am very happy. So far I have raced with the Minimoto and it is very nice to have such an opportunity. I have been training with a 125GP since this year, I will continue to do so and I would really like to be able to reach the World Championship. So far everything has gone well and I hope they will believe in me for a long time. I will do my best to achieve our goals.”
Paolo Campinoti, CEO of the Pramac group: “We decided to develop a young Italian driver with the aim of taking him to the world championship, following him from the beginning. With this new project, our goal is to make a long-term investment. This young champion is very promising and we believe in his potential. »
The story was undoubtedly too good to be true and, after having participated in the Cuna de campeones during the years 2008 and 2009, and having been vice-champion in the PreGP EVO category, the one we nicknamed “Il Morbido” is increasingly faced with financial difficulties.
Despite an appearance on an Aprilia from the Aspar Bancaja team in 2010, the antechamber of the Grands Prix that constitutes the CEV is forbidden to him, due to lack of financial means...
“At the age of 15 everything ended suddenly. I should have participated in the Spanish championship, but there was no more money despite the sacrifices of my parents. Talent and sacrifice were not enough, we chose a cheaper category, the Stock 600. Dad found sponsors for 2 seasons.”
In 2011, with the support of Forward Racing, Franco Morbidelli participates in 4 races of the European Superstock 600 with a Yamaha YZR6. The following year, he finished the championship in 6th place.
In 2013, he was the favorite by lining up under the team's colors San Carlo Team Italy, but the tragedy hits him before the season even begins. The man Franco always calls dad commits suicide in the family home in Babbucce at the age of 52.
Faced with the horror of the situation, Franco resists…
“In this case, you must choose: collapse or react and move forward. I chose the second, and I grew two years at once. On some occasions, my story helped me, because I learned to value certain things. After his death, I threw myself headlong into the sport, committing and staying focused on the bike, without falling apart. In many cases, sport helps those who have to overcome moments like this: I am an example. In 2013 I won the Stock 600, the only “serious” championship that I have conquered, a victory which opened the door to Moto2 for me.”
In this unbearable period, Franco Morbidelli receives the discreet but real support of Valentino Rossi.
“Rossi's humility and dedication are remarkable: he has the experience of a 90-year-old and the enthusiasm of an 18-year-old. He was my idol from a young age, then I met him, living near him. And he was with me in the good times, and above all he was ready to help me in the difficult times, like a true friend. And he taught me so much, not just about motorcycling. I've always compared him to Messi, who is the active number one, but being half-Brazilian, I'd better associate him with Pele. He's like an uncle. The term brother would not be appropriate because I have much more respect for him than for a brother. Training with Vale is the greatest chance: after 10 minutes you know more than in a thousand races. It's sometimes more competitive than during a Grand Prix. It's a bit like a child playing football with Messi. But there are other things you learn, staying by his side. Learn to appreciate freedom, enjoy the few simple moments that life reserves for such a champion. Like eating pizza at one in the morning with real friends in a shuttered restaurant, with no one to ask for an autograph, a photo or a cap.”
Even if they remain relatively discreet, we clearly understand the extremely strong human relationships which now unite the two men. Valentino Rossi will truly create his VR46 Riders Academy for himself…
What followed was an almost classic climb, with an 11th place in the 2014 World Championship under the colors ofItaltrans, then a first podium at Indianapolis the following year before injuring himself in off-road racing and missing 4 races, finishing the year 10th in the world rankings in the intermediate category.
In 2016, he joined the team Marc VDS and reached the podium six times, including three in second place, in Austria, England and Australia.
2017 will be the year of his world recognition, with 8 victories including the first at the Qatar Grand Prix.
“Now I can say it: I dedicated it to Dad. And in the evening, I locked myself in my room to listen to the samba: Seu Jorge, Daniela Merkury, Ivete San Galo. Because it’s beautiful and a little sad, joy.”
This winter, even if he sometimes still feels the regret of not being “a normal student. I would have liked to continue school, become an engineer, it would be so nice to have two lives, but I had to choose” or a “bartender on a beach in Brazil”, Franco Morbidelli is fulfilling his childhood dream…
“I’m already dreaming of MotoGP at night! In my head, I have already done an impressive number of tests, I have become a good night tester. In dreams, it's always beautiful and easy, perfect. But I'm not sure it will happen again in real life... I'm curious to see what I'll do when I have to play with power, braking and tires in MotoGP. »
He already had a glimpse of it in Valencia, and his many facets due to his Italian-Brazilian roots will be all weapons to face this new challenge.
“From my mother I inherited the Brazilian attitude of “flowing with the flow”, I am calm and relaxed, the Italian side taught me to be serious at work and with the people I love. More than anything, I am a free person. My name 'Franco' means 'a free man' and I love it. I am an authentic, relaxed and quiet person. »
This year, Franco Morbidelli will make his MotoGP debut, undoubtedly still with that slightly sad and melancholy smile. We know why and we don't blame him. As we don't blame him for not having a website and limiting the means of communication as much as possible...
“I use the phone and social networks very little: with people, I like to talk while looking at their faces.”
A good life lesson… Thank you “Francky”!
sources: Repubblica.it, Sportfair, Motoracing, Courier, etc.
