It is not yet clear where Franco Morbidelli’s path will lead after his departure from Yamaha. Pecco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi stand by their compatriots.
It has been official for a week already that Franco Morbidelli will lose his place in the Yamaha factory team for 2024 because he is not producing the results expected. In 2020, the Italian with Brazilian roots finished second in the World Championship with three more motorcycle victories for Petronas SRT.
“I’m in a bit of an awkward position because I don’t have a seat for next season” ─ I confess The 28-year-old competitor when asked about his current situation.
Nevertheless, the 2017 Moto2 World Champion and second runner-up of the 2020 MotoGP season is considered a promising candidate for a position with Ducati’s customer team. If world championship bronze medalist Marco Pesicki decides to join Pramac, Morbidelli would be a logical choice for the VR46 Racing Team. However, if “Bez” does not change, the second place in Gresini Racing ─ together with the recently officially confirmed lex Márquez is still available.
After the weekend at Silverstone, Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti told Pitlane correspondent Jack Appleyard: “We’d love to see Morbidelli on Ducati next year. We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks.”
Bezzecchi has to make a decision by the weekend in Austria, according to Ducati’s sporting director
In any case, Morbidelli’s friends sincerely wish him a new motorcycle opportunity. World Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia said: “I think Frankie is one of the strongest competitors in the field. In 2020 he was second, in 2021 he was competitive until surgery, and in Jerez he was able to stand on the podium with the old bike. Then came His knee problems. Then with the team… If you look at the results, there will be no rivalry again, except for Argentina this year.”
“I think Frankie deserves another chance. When we train together, it always goes well.”
Bezzecchi agrees with the Ducati factory rider: “I agree with Pecco. Frankie is very strong from my point of view too. He didn’t deserve it, but in the end he just can’t control it. I hope he finds himself a MotoGP bike because I think he’s one of the strongest riders. If It was my Ducati, I’m happy for him, but I certainly would be happy if he got a bike.”
