English
Italiano
Franco Morbidelli celebrated his move to MotoGP next year with a pole position. He confirmed the news himself: “I signed. It was not a simple decision, but next season will begin a new chapter in my career.” Morbido will stay with team Marc VDS and, although officially the contract between Honda and the Belgian team has not yet been finalized, he ensures with a smile “I have enough assurances on which bike I’ll be riding.”
From Stock 600 to MotoGP in a few years. How do you feel?
“It is something that I thought of as I signed. Just 4 years ago I was racing in Superstock. It means that we have done an excellent job, me, VR46, the people who have been close to me. I want to thank all of them. I learned something from each one.”
Did you think you would decide your future so soon?
“Utopia is expecting to be sure of winning the Moto2 title before doing it, but by now MotoGP does not allow certain times and I accepted.”
You are coming from two disappointing races. Had your thoughts about the contract distracted you?
“Maybe thinking about the future had an impact, but in Barcelona and Mugello I never went fast. They were my worst races of the season but the best for me on those tracks.”
Zarco is in pole position today. Is that good news for you too as you think about 2018?
“It doesn’t work like that. The fact that I battled with him and that now Johann is doing well does not mean that I will do the same. It will depend on a lot of factors. If I manage to achieve his results, find, otherwise I will work to improve.”
In the meantime, you are enjoying pole position…
“It’s nice to be back on the top after two bland races. What can I say? We did some good work.”
It was not an easy session with Baldassarri’s accident.
“When I read on the boards that he was conscious I breathed a sigh of relief. In those moments everything goes through your head, especially when it happens to a rider like Balda who I see every day. It is not a simple thing to regain your concentration.”
