They brawl on the track and continually make fun of each other in every public outing, but Marco Bezzecchi and Pecco Bagnaia practically speak in chorus when the subject is Franco Morbidelli. The first rider of the VR46 Riders Academy agrees: “he deserves another chance in MotoGP”. Will it be a “welcome to Ducati”?
Yamaha offered him to switch to Superbike and become the reference for the post-Toprak Razgatlioglu project, but Franco Morbidelli he preferred to remain a free man rather than agree to move to a world championship that he doesn’t feel his own and with the certainty that he still has a lot to say in MotoGP. Now, however, for Franco Morbidelli the situation is complicated, because his was a choice without a parachute, even if the Italian-Brazilian pilot himself admitted that there is some negotiation going on. Probably with Lucio Cecchinello, for the satellite Honda in place of Alex Rins, or even with Gresini Racing, for the Ducati Desmosedici which currently belongs to Fabio Di Giannantonio.
In recent days i Ducati top management they were clear: “We would love it if Morbidelli rode a Ducati”. And today there are two more endorsements that do not go unnoticed and that could sound like a “welcome on a redhead”. The signatures are two who share the days and training sessions of the VR46 Academy with Franco Morbidelli and to whom, therefore, the Italian-Brazilian is linked not only by work but also by deep friendship. To the point of becoming the one who agrees Pecco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi. In fact, it is known that the two, despite being great friends, are rivals on the track and are fighting for a world championship, just as it is known that they have now entered the media roles of those who always tease each other. And that I never fully agree. Except, of course, when the subject is Franco Morbidelli.
“I think Franky deserves more – said the world champion Pecco Bagnaia – he deserves another chance because he has a great talent and because I think he’s competitive. When we train together he is always competitive. So he deserves something better. Franky is still one of the strongest in the field: in 2020 he was runner-up in the world, in 2021 he was competitive until the operation, with a podium on the old bike in Jerez. Then he had knee problems. After the problems were with the team. If you look at the results, this year has never been more competitive apart from Argentina”. Marco Bezzecchi also immediately joined Bagnaia: “I agree with Pecco. From my point of view, Franky is very strong. He didn’t deserve this bad moment. I hope he can find a MotoGP, because I think he’s one of the strongest riders. If it’s a Ducati I’ll be happy for him, in any case I’ll be happy even if it’s another bike”.
