A career in MotoGP is sometimes as simple as a phone call. Or a last minute decision that changes many destinies. This is the beginning of a Petronas team which was then only a plan, an idea, before materializing in a box. A gestation period that Ramon Forcada remembers. At the time, we were very far from thinking about hiring a Fabio Quartararo. We focused more on two of his illustrious elders, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa…
At least, we should rather say Jorge Lorenzo ou Dani Pedrosa. Because Ramon Forcada begins his duty of remembrance thus: “ two years ago, when we set to work building the team, we had no doubt about the name Franco Morbidelli », he revealed to the microphones of the Radio Ocotillo podcast relayed by Tutomotoriweb. " Given his young age, however, he would have been the second rider, whereas for the first bike, we contacted Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa ».
However, the “elders” did not make present…” The first, Jorge Lorenzo, was not interested and immediately rejected Petronas' proposal », Continues Forked.
Petronas and Dani Pedrosa narrowly missed each other
« With Dani Pedrosa, on the other hand, we had practically closed the agreements and we were in line on everything, but the pilot had asked to be able to evaluate again if he wanted to continue his career or if, on the contrary, the time was not came to stop with shopping. Then he decided to stop and that's when Fabio Quartararo arrived ».
From there, Morbidely who was initially promised to be the youngest was propelled to the role of veteran since Petronas then decided to play the youth card with Quarterly. The irony is that in 2021, the initial plan becomes relevant again with the arrival of Valentino Rossi which increases the average age of drivers in the Malaysian-colored box. However, in the meantime, Franco Morbidelli became vice-world champion…
