Marco Bezzecchi
Neil Hodgson has blasted one of Brad Binder’s rivals for a factory Ducati seat in the 2027 World Superbikes championship, claiming that their recent form has suggested that they are undeserving of consideration.
MotoGP’s new era of regulations, set to take effect next season, has seen pandemonium erupt in the premier class rider market this year. As such, several seasoned veterans are looking down the barrel of an exit from the Grand Prix paddock.
What penalty would you give Franco Morbidelli for this incident in practice at Assen?
Morbidelli received a three-place grid penalty for riding slowly on the racing line
Brad Binder is among those facing an exit and has been linked with a move to Ducati’s World Superbikes team in place of Nicolo Bulega, who looks to be joining VR46 for 2027. A recent report has suggested that Binder’s camp has held talks with Ducati over the move.
It has also come to light that Jack Miller and Franco Morbidelli are in the running for a seat with the Borgo Panigale-based outfit in WSBK next year. However, MotoGP pundit Neil Hodgson is under the impression that the latter is far from deserving of such a coveted ride.
Neil Hodgson questions whether Franco Morbidelli ‘deserves’ a factory Ducati World Superbikes ride
During TNT Sports’ coverage of Q1 at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Hodgson was discussing Morbidelli’s future as he fell out of the first session of shootouts to claim a P13 grid slot for Saturday’s Sprint race.
Commentator Gavin Emmett drew attention to the fact that Morbidelli may be dressed in red overalls next season in WSBK, saying, “A lot of people are betting on him perhaps being in World Superbikes next year, as a factory Ducati man.”
Prove me wrong: Franco Morbidelli’s reputation regarding crashes is worse than the reality
Hodgson acknowledged the interest surrounding Morbidelli, but highlighted the Italian rider’s poor form over the last 12 months as a clear indicator of him not warranting a ride at arguably the best team on the World Superbikes grid at the moment.
“It’s heavily rumoured, but I feel like he has proper landed on his feet if he gets that opportunity,” the 2003 World Superbikes champion replied. “I don’t know if he deserves it, really, with his form. He’s been off for quite some time now.”
After nine rounds of racing in 2026, the 31-year-old has been the weakest rider in Ducati’s stable. Despite the likes of Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer all missing at least one race weekend this year, Morbidelli has the lowest points tally out of them all.
MotoGP fans think Ducati will be making a big mistake if they opt to put Morbidelli in the seat over Binder and Miller, who, despite also suffering poor results this year, remain very good options for the team.
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Neil Hodgson also blasted Franco Morbidelli’s apology for riding slowly on the racing line at the Dutch GP
Morbidelli has come under fire again this weekend for his antics out on track, and was handed a three-place grid penalty by the stewards for falling guilty of riding slowly on the racing line. The Italian issued an apology, but Hodgson wasn’t having any of it.
Morbidelli posted to social media, “So sorry about that! I was coming back to the pitbox, and I got no signal that Bastianini was coming… Sure, when there will be radio messages, these things will be much less frequent.
“I’m happy that nothing serious happened to me, or to Bastianini, or the other riders. That’s the most important [thing].”
The former MotoGP rider didn’t mince his words as he reacted to it, saying, “It sounds like an absolute load of rubbish to me, that. He’s got form, hasn’t he?
“I don’t know whether it’s brain fade. He does a lap, and then he’ll think, ‘Right, I’ll just have a whistle and ride around into the pits.”
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