By winning the World Championship at the Malaysian Grand Prix with eight victories, eleven podiums and six pole positions, Franco Morbidelli became the first Italian rider to win the Moto2 crown and the first in the intermediate category since Marco Simoncelli in 2008.
Franco benefited from the support and training of the VR46 Riders Academy, of which he will still be a part in 2018 with Francis Bagnaia, Luca Marini, Stefano Manzi, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Dennis Foggia, Andrea Migno, Niccolò Antonelli, Marco Bezzecchi and Celestino Vietti.
“I learned so many things alongside Valentino, it would take too long to list them. In fact, everything I know I get from Valentino. So thanks " explained Morbidelli during the press conference in Sepang. “Francky Morbido” gave Rossi his first title as a teacher.
“I am really happy and very proud of Franco – commented the Doctor, quoted by gpone - He deserved this title because this year he was at a higher level than everyone else. He won 8 races, meaning he dominated the season. »
Morbidelli will reunite with Rossi in MotoGP on the same grid next year and could become a new rival for Valentino.
“If I ride like I did last Sunday in Malaysia, I could definitely find it under my feet! he joked about his 7th place at Sepang. All joking aside, I think he can also be competitive in MotoGP. It's true, we will be rivals, we will talk less about technical issues but I don't think our relationship will change much, there will be no big problems. »
Franco Morbidelli
Date of birth: December 4, 1994
Place of birth: Rome, Italy
First Grand Prix: San Marino 2013, Moto2
First pole position: Losail 2017, Moto2
First podium: Indianapolis 2015, Moto2
First victory: Losail 2017, Moto2
Departures: 70
Victoires: 8
Podiums: 20
Pole positions: 6
Best laps in the race: 12
2013: Moto2 World Championship — Suter, 3 starts
2014: Moto2 World Championship — 11th position — Kalex, 18 starts, 75 points
2015: Moto2 World Championship — 10th position — Kalex, 14 starts, 90 points
2016: Moto2 World Championship — 4th position — Kalex, 18 starts, 213 points
2017: Moto2 World Championship — World Champion — Kalex, 17 starts, 288 points
Photo © VR46 Riders Academy
Source: gpone.com
