Due to the unique circumstances of his pre-season, Franco Morbidelli’s current status in MotoGP is somewhat contradictory. On one hand, with the rider market constantly active, his future beyond 2024 is highly uncertain, putting him in a precarious position.
Assuming his current team, Pramac, continues with Ducati, one seat has already been filled by Moto2 standout Fermin Aldeguer. The other seat is still open and could be taken by one of the standout riders who miss out on the second seat at the official Ducati team in 2025, or by a high-level outside recruit. It is a highly desirable seat, even though Morbidelli’s teammate, Jorge Martin, seems willing to give it up.
On the other hand, Morbidelli had a significant upgrade on his 2023 bike for 2024, possibly one of the biggest on the MotoGP grid. Only Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez can rival his improvement, but Morbidelli’s Ducati surpasses their respective bikes. However, the question still remains on how Morbidelli can effectively utilize this elite machine. His injury suffered during road bike testing in Portimão before the season deprived him of valuable pre-season preparation and left him at a disadvantage for the season opener in Qatar.
Despite his lack of track time and familiarity with the bike, Morbidelli’s 2024 season showed promising signs in Portimão. Although his results did not reflect it, there were credible indications that the Ducati team in MotoGP is about to become even stronger. Morbidelli showed his potential by finishing among the top five in the opening session with low grip and by challenging strongly in the second free practice session on Friday before crashing. Despite this setback, he remained optimistic about his performance, stating that he exceeded his expectations. Although there have been fluctuations in his progress, Morbidelli’s performance on Sunday showed a tangible improvement.
Morbidelli acknowledged that he still has a lot to learn and adapt to the Ducati. His lack of familiarity with the bike and its different characteristics makes it difficult for him to ride freely and instinctively. However, he remains positive about his progress and expresses his satisfaction with the Ducati. Comparisons with Yamaha are avoided, but Morbidelli’s comments imply that he feels very comfortable and confident with his current bike. His pace and performance during the race demonstrated his potential to finish among the top six or seven.
It is essential to recognize the reasons why Morbidelli’s achievements in Portimão remain theoretical. Although his time with Yamaha has been generally competitive, he has faced penalties and criticism from rivals for his behavior on the track. These incidents, including a physical confrontation with Joan Mir, compromised his races and tarnished his reputation. Mir criticized Morbidelli’s aggressive riding style in the early laps at Portimão, suggesting that a more cautious approach would be safer for everyone. Although the incident between them has not been officially investigated, Mir’s damaged bike and torn clothes serve as evidence of the collision.
Despite the incident, Morbidelli’s future races may not involve direct competition with Honda riders as frequently. This offers a glimmer of hope for both Morbidelli and Mir, as they may have fewer encounters on the track.
© 2024
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