Franco Morbidelli pinpoints the moment his MotoGP career stopped feeling ‘idyllic’

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Franco Morbidelli has endured a difficult few years in MotoGP. But the Italian is feeling optimistic about the future.

The 30-year-old has joined VR46 for the 2025 season from fellow satellite Ducati team Pramac. He was the partner to Jorge Martin last year – who went on to win the title.

Morbidelli will race alongside Fabio Di Giannantonio this year, who will be riding the Desmosedici GP25 with Ducati works riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia.

Alex Marquez and rookie Fermin Aldeguer will ride last year’s GP24 with Morbidelli. The bike won 16 races in 2024 and still looks competitive heading into the Thailand Grand Prix.

Morbidelli seems a refreshed and energetic character going into the 2025 season – it has been a very different story over the last couple of seasons.

Franco Morbidelli shares his MotoGP career stopped feeling ‘idyllic’ midway through 2021

The Italian finished runner-up to Joan Mir in 2020, winning three races with the Petronas Yamaha SRT team. Morbidelli has not won a Grand Prix in the premier class since then.

The 30-year-old suffered a knee injury midway through the 2021 season. He recovered slower than expected and has since struggled to compete at the front.

After two disappointing seasons with the factory Yamaha team, Morbidelli signed with Pramac where he got back on track with ninth in the standings. Speaking on the #ZamTube YouTube channel, the Italian recalled how his career stopped feeling ‘idyllic’ during his struggles with Yamaha.

But the 30-year-old feels more ‘cheerful’ after his move to VR46: “Well certainly the fact of this great opportunity that the valley team have given me, that Uccio has given me,” he said.

“And maybe without realising it but I’m happier, more cheerful and certainly when you are happier, cheerful, you also go faster on the bike. Sp they are all positive things.

“The beginning and the middle of my career up to 2021 and up to the middle of 2021 it was idyllic. It was a path from there after [that] there were a lot of difficulties and a lot of missed expectations.

“It’s true, but the expectations have always been high because the beginning and the middle of my career and my speed have always made people expect a lot from me.”

What Alessio Salucci has ‘discovered’ from Franco Morbidelli after joining VR46

Jack Appleyard says Morbidelli’s personality has been oozing since joining VR46. The Italian has not been great to interview over the years during his struggles.

But the Italian now seems to have found confidence on the GP24. Morbidelli topped the time sheets on the second day of testing in Sepang.

Alessio Salucci says Morbidelli has become more ‘professional’ over the years. VR46 will hope the 30-year-old can use his maturity to challenge at the front.

Morbidelli says victories are ‘definitely’ possible in the early stages. The Italian should not be ruled out of a podium finish at Buriram.