Franco Morbidelli is preparing for the Portuguese Grand Prix with a mixture of anticipation and memories of his pre-season accident at the same circuit. In January, during a test with a Panigale V4S, Morbidelli suffered a severe crash which left him unconscious and forced him to miss MotoGP pre-season testing. This event forced him to treat the Qatar Grand Prix as an impromptu testing session on his new Ducati from the Pramac team.
Faced with his return to Portimao, Franco Morbidelli displays a positive attitude, despite the circumstances. “ I have no apprehension about coming back here, quite the contrary,” insists Morbidely. " It's a fantastic circuit, despite my accident, which was so unusual it would be difficult to replicate. It doesn't influence my way of thinking."
Morbidely describes Portimao as an exhilarating experience, while recognizing its dangers. “ It's an extraordinary circuit, both fun and dangerous, just like our sport. Fortunately, I was never confronted with the gravel of Portimao, even during my accident. I stayed on the asphalt,” he says, recalling the concerns of the escape routes now reviewed and addressed since the corrective actions have been carried out and approved by the officials.
Franco Morbidelli: “ I feel good, ready to take on the challenges ahead »
Now fully recovered from his fall, Morbidely is ready to continue its adaptation to the Ducati GP24, although this process started later than for its competitors. “ After a few normal weeks at home, I feel more confident for the upcoming Grand Prix. We have some catching up to do, but I'm ready,” he confides.
The recent announcement of the arrival in MotoGP de Fermin Aldeguer in Ducati in 2025, probably within the team Pramac, did not shake Morbidely. On the contrary, he focuses on the present and his immediate objective: to perform in Portimao. “ I feel good, ready to take on the challenges ahead,” concludes the Italian-Brazilian, determined to leave his mark on the Portuguese circuit this weekend.
