Three-win MotoGP rider admits ‘I haven’t lived up to expectations’ but 2025 could be great

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MotoGP will have five premier class world champions and 15 Grand Prix winners in the 2025 field but one of those riders feels ‘I haven’t lived up to expectations’, at least yet.

Jorge Martin became the most recent MotoGP world champion last year, and has taken the No1 plate from Pramac to Aprilia. His move to the Italian team’s factory line-up may prevent the Spaniard from retaining the title against Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez of Ducati.

Yamaha and Honda also have premier class champions in their garages via Fabio Quartararo and Joan Mir. Aprilia, KTM Factory Racing, KTM Tech3, LCR Honda, Pramac and VR46 also all boast Grand Prix winners this year with the 2025 MotoGP grid deep with talented riders.

Franco Morbidelli admits ‘I haven’t lived up to expectations’ but joining VR46 could be big

VR46 even boast Grand Prix winners on both of their bikes this term after welcoming Franco Morbidelli from Pramac to partner Fabio Di Giannantonio. The crew Valentino Rossi founded gave the 30-year-old a single-season deal in August and he will race a Ducati GP24 in 2025.

Only Di Giannantonio, after signing a factory Ducati contract for 2025 and 2026, will ride the Desmosedici GP25 outside of works riders Bagnaia and Marquez. Gresini pair Alex Marquez and rookie Fermin Aldeguer will also receive a GP24, on which Martin won the title in 2024.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Valentino Rossi’s VR46 from current riders to bike

Despite riding year-old machinery, Morbidelli is optimistic that uniting with his mentor Rossi can allow the Rome native to start to fulfil the expectations placed upon his shoulders. After seven years in MotoGP, the 2017 Moto2 champion still feels like he has a big point to prove.

“There’s no point in hiding it, since 2021 I haven’t lived up to expectations,” Morbidelli has told Moto.it. “I haven’t been able to do what Quartararo did. Since last year, however, since I recovered from my injury, a new chapter has opened.”

Morbidelli moving from Pramac to VR46 for the 2025 MotoGP season also adds more fuel to his optimism for the new term. The three-time premier class Grand Prix winner is convinced VR46 have the tools to compete in 2025 and also have the right team leader in owner Rossi.

“We have everything we need to be competitive, led by Valentino’s star,” the Italian added. “There’s a great charge in the team.”

Joining Valentino Rossi at VR46 could recapture Franco Morbidelli’s Petronas SRT form

Morbidelli enjoyed by large the best season of his MotoGP career to date back in 2020 after coming second to Mir for the riders’ title. The Italian claimed all three of his Grand Prix wins yet that term with the Petronas SRT Yamaha team to finish 13 points behind the Suzuki star.

A graduation to the factory Yamaha team also arrived at his door in 2021, but Morbidelli did not maintain the promise he displayed on satellite machinery. His last premier class podium remains P3 in the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez for Petronas SRT, also marking his sixth.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Di Giannantonio from net worth to AS Roma

Ultimately, his struggles beside Quartararo – who won the 2021 riders’ title with Yamaha – saw the Iwata squad part with Morbidelli after 2023. His 2024 campaign was also almost a write-off before it began after crashing at Portimao in the winter off-season on a road bike.

Morbidelli fell going over the hill between Turns 8 and 9 and he was unconscious when the Marquez brothers arrived at the scene. It took the Italian months to recover as he also had to learn the Ducati GP24 bike, but Morbidelli started to make progress with his P5 in Germany.

Remaining on a GP24 now for VR46 in 2025 and working with his mentor Rossi could be the ticket that unlocks his potential again. After all, Morbidelli ended Day 3 of the Sepang Test in P4, 0.455 seconds off Alex Marquez, and Day 2 of the Buriram Test in P7, 0.599s from Marc.