Franco Morbidelli’s MotoGP journey desperately needed a change of scenery following his disappointing time with the factory Yamaha team, and joining the reigning champions Pramac Ducati should have been a great opportunity. However, his winter preparations have been far from ideal. Due to injuries sustained during training, Morbidelli goes into the first race of the season with only one day of testing on his new Ducati. This lack of preparation is not ideal for a season that could make or break his career.
The significance of the year 2024 for Morbidelli is no secret. It has been a long time since his impressive 2020 season, where he fought for the championship but was ultimately beaten by Joan Mir in a season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite riding a satellite Yamaha, Morbidelli ended the year with three victories and was only 13 points behind Mir. He also outperformed his teammate Fabio Quartararo, who had already secured a promotion to the factory team for 2021.
However, since then, Morbidelli’s fortunes have taken a turn for the worse. He suffered a serious knee injury while training at Valentino Rossi’s ranch, followed by two difficult seasons on the factory Yamaha. It has been challenging to determine whether the issues were with the rider or the bike, as the Yamaha M1 also experienced a dip in form. Regardless, Morbidelli has not stood on the podium since early 2021, and his form has not returned to its previous level.
As a result, Morbidelli was replaced at Yamaha by Alex Rins. Fortunately, he has found a new home at Pramac, where he will ride the best satellite bike on the MotoGP grid alongside Jorge Martin, last year’s championship runner-up. However, this also means that the pressure is on for Morbidelli in 2024. He no longer has any excuses when it comes to the bike and is expected to challenge for podium finishes. Failure to do so may result in him being replaced after just one season.
To make matters worse, there are already rumors that Ducati has secured the services of Moto2 sensation Fermin Aldeguer, who could potentially replace Morbidelli in the future. With a number of young talents set to move up to MotoGP next year, Morbidelli’s future in the sport is at stake. While he may have a potential spot in Valentino Rossi’s VR46 satellite Ducati team, good results will be crucial for him to secure his place in the sport.
Unfortunately, Morbidelli’s 2024 season has gotten off to a terrible start. While he had the opportunity to ride the Ducati for the first time in November, a training crash on a production bike at Portimao resulted in a significant concussion. This forced him to miss both pre-season tests at Sepang and Lusail. As a result, Morbidelli will essentially begin the most important season of his career without sufficient time on his new bike, while his competitors have had ample time to familiarize themselves with their machines. This adds even more pressure to an already challenging situation for Morbidelli.