until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Franco Morbidelli starts today’s Valencian Grand Prix as the clear favourite.
He not only had the speed to secure pole position yesterday but has also showed a clear advantage on race pace in practice.
Morbidelli looks capable of making a break from the front row and adding a third victory to his 2020 tally – a result that would draw him equal with the Petronas SRT Yamaha team’s number one rider Fabio Quartararo.
“We still need to aim for the title while the chance is there, even if the chance is a very small one” :: Franco Morbidelli
He’s confident that he’s got the pace to clear off in the way he did at both Misano and Aragon.
That’s a welcome relief to the Italian, too, after a disastrous weekend in the first Valencia race last weekend, where he was barely able to struggle home in the points and keep his championship hopes alive.
“We’ve been able to understand well what happened last weekend and we’ve tried to do something about it,” Morbidelli said after qualifying.
“I felt better from yesterday, and we’re back being able to fight for the top positions and can hopefully do the same tomorrow.
“The big goal is the championship right now so I’m more focused on that, and I’m not thinking about last Sunday because we know the problem.
“I’m not worrying about the package or myself, we just know what happened and we’ve finetuned this weekend to make things better.”
By far the most consistent Yamaha rider of recent races, his championship goals might be a bit optimistic as he goes into the race 45 points behind leader Joan Mir.
But with the battle for second still very much alive, Morbidelli says he’ll be happy just to improve on his current fifth place.
“I’m trying to make the best out of this championship, and if the best position is first that’s really good – but second or third or fourth would be great as well,” he said.
“We still need to aim for the title while the chance is there, even if the chance is a very small one, and to put ourselves in the best position to fight for it. Then we’ll see at the end which position we’re able to get.
“I’m always aiming for the maximum because I’m in a moment where I’m in great shape and have a great feeling with the bike.
“From there to getting it is a different story, and we need to see where we are tomorrow and next weekend in Portimao.”
Morbidelli’s impressive performance came on the day where team boss Johan Stigefelt finally confirmed once and for all that Morbidelli would retain his 2019 M1 for the 2021 MotoGP season instead of joining Yamaha’s other three riders on a 2021 model.
However, Morbidelli’s not too upset by the news, given his pace on the current model and a development freeze for next year that will mean the factory bikes remain largely in the same configuration that they are right now.
And while he might be losing out in terms of bike spec, he believes he’s got a key advantage in the shape of crew chief Ramon Forcada.
Forcada is of the most experienced engineers in the paddock thanks to his time working with riders like Alex Criville, Alex Barros, Carlos Checa, Jorge Lorenzo and Maverick Vinales, and Morbidelli believes that they’ll be able to continue to find speed from the 2019 M1 next year.
“Ramon is very, very good – he is one of the crack guys in the sport with great knowledge and experience,” said Morbidelli.
“He knows the bike so well, because he’s been with the same bike from many years to another.
“In terms of the modifications we do and the moves we make, this is a huge advantage because we’re able to be very precise. It’s a great thing, and I’m lucky to be working with him. He’s a great advantage to me.”
