FRANCO MORBIDELLI SAYS HE HAS LEARNED TO PUSH FEARS AS HIS MOTOGP RUN ENDS

Franco Morbidelli says the Misano weekend carries extra weight because it may be his final MotoGP race at the Marco Simoncelli circuit. The VR46 rider, who grew up about 20 minutes from the track, called the event “special,” adding: “That it’s my last MotoGP race here makes it even more special.”

Morbidelli also addressed the end of his MotoGP contract with VR46, saying he did not dwell on the fact it could not be extended: “Over the years I’ve learned to push fears aside.” He linked that mindset to his rookie experience in 2018, when he admitted he “had fear” about having to leave MotoGP again. “When, in the first year, good results don’t come, you start to get scared,” he said.

Looking back, Morbidelli pointed to 2018 as a formative season—he finished 15th in the championship and was named Rookie of the Year—while describing 2022 as the toughest period so far, and suggesting the current year has also been challenging. He is currently 16th in the standings, 155 points behind teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio.

When asked when he truly realized his MotoGP career was ending, Morbidelli said it became clear “when the team told me.” For his next step in the Superbike World Championship, he stressed he is not yet feeling excitement: “Before that, I’m looking forward to the Misano weekend. Everything else comes step by step.”