Franco Morbidelli “Valentino Rossi’s guys are good in MotoGP, but sooner or later I’ll beat them”

ABSENT – Valentino Rossi sportingly adopted him, and named heir: Franco Morbidelli known as ‘Frankie’, the eldest son of the Tavullia “family”. Pure talent and a gentle smile, only 3 seasons ago he came close to the title. But a century has passed since then: Bagnaia defending champion, Bezzecchi revelation, Marines hope of MotoGP: today those three start in the front row in Holland, next to each other. Ready to celebrate another triumph, in the Cathedral of Speed. The ‘Bez’ has just won the sprint race, dueling with a Pecco. The Doc is so proud of them: they’ve grown up, the little ones. The eldest son arrives later and later: Frankie is in the 5th row, 15th. “I do not give up. It can not rain forever”.

They ride Ducatis, she rides a Yamaha. In the moment of the blackest crisis in the history of Japanese motorcycles.

“In recent years, Italian companies have been aggressive. Fierce, brilliant. Yamaha clung to Quartararo. Honda has focused on Marquez, almost never on the track. But while in Japan they made small steps forward, in Italy they started running”.

This story rehabilitates the last, anonymous seasons of Rossi.

“Everyone suffered with the M1: Valentino, Dovizioso, Crutchlow. Vinales maybe did well in practice, then he crumbled in the race. I? First the knee injury, then the year and a half of difficulty like the others”.

At the end of the year, his contract with the Iwata house ends but he doesn’t want to leave: why?

“I began to see the light. I understood the bike, I can exploit its maximum potential: I’m able to be at least as fast as Quartararo. This is why there was a great rapprochement with Yamaha. I like the soul of this team. I haven’t achieved the things I set out to do, not yet: it’s the thing that matters most to me, the reason why I would like to stay”.

Is Ducati on another planet?

“Now yes. But if everything turns out perfect in the race, and they make some mistakes, this year I can still get on the podium”.

For his ‘little brothers’ from Tavullia, all Ducatisti, the podium is the minimum wage. Ah, if there was ‘Frankie’ on a Borgo Panigale red…

“Seeing the boys go fast is a joy and a great motivation. We continue to spend so much time together, on and off the track. In family. We train, we have fun. I’m happy with their results, I hope to beat them soon. No, not with a Ducati. There’s no time for feelings like envy. I’m focused on the Yamaha project, on the next race.”

What does Valentine say?

“He compliments others, but knows they don’t need it too much. With Uccio Salucci he dedicates himself above all to me. He has important, powerful words. He tries to push me, he teaches me that it’s important to always believe it. I still see myself as a protagonist: I want at least one more chance”.

Who winsand the 2023 World Cup?

“A Ducati, what questions. I won’t mention names: out of superstition”.

He has lost that beautiful smile.

“I became a man. Old friends have graduated. See you at dinner, but no more going home at 4 in the morning. It was spectacular to enter the world of adults with a pinch of madness, but time is running out. I’ve been with the same girl for 12 years: I like long relationships. As with Yamaha. Giving and receiving trust, that’s what Valentino taught me: especially when things get complicated. He can’t rain forever ”.