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This weekend at the Buriram track in Thailand will officially kick off Franco Morbidelli's 2025 season. A long-awaited moment for the Italian-Brazilian rider, eager to get back on his Desmosedici GP24, in this his first season with the colors of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team. The closing of a circle for Franco, ready to return to the track to confirm also in the race the good sensations found in the tests two weeks ago and improve the results achieved in last year's Thai Round. In which he had achieved a sixth place in the Sprint and a retirement in the Grand Prix.
"Will this year be different from last year? I hope so. This year has definitely started very differently than last year. I had a chance to test, to have a smooth schedule and to complete everything we had in mind. We checked off every box. The start was different, we'll see how things evolve," Morbidelli commented in the usual Thursday meeting with journalists.
Although the preseason has been very positive, the VR46 rider does not want to start setting targets for the season in terms of results. Preferring to take a race-by-race approach.
"I will be happy with the maximum we can do: if in a weekend our maximum is third position, I will be happy with that. If it's first, I'll be happy with first. We will think about it race by race, day by day," Franky said. "We know that the potential is quite high, because in testing we were quite fast on all the days, but we have to see and verify day by day in the race weekends."
Morbidelli showed during testing that he has made big progress since 2024, in this his second year riding the GP24.
"My bike is still the same. I feel good and we have a pretty solid base," he explained, "I was three tenths faster in Sepang and half a second faster here in testing than my fastest lap in the race. So I would say we have improved on last year's performance. Right now, the difference is this: three tenths in Sepang and half a second here. We'll see over the weekend. I think I improved in the corners, because in the straights the bike is the same as before. So, I can't make anything up."
Speaking in more detail about his progress and how he achieved it, the 30-year-old added, "In some corners I improved in braking, in others in the middle of the corner, it's hard to pinpoint a specific area. But it's definitely not the straight. What did we change? We modified my base setup a little bit, making it a little more comfortable. I feel a little more comfortable on the bike, and that allows me to be a little faster."
After being part of Valentino Rossi's Academy for so many years, this weekend Morbido will face his first race as a rider for the nine-time world champion's team.
"I feel like it's a special moment coming to a close. I've had a slightly different path than the other Academy riders. Now I'm racing for Vale's team and it's perfect - it's a perfect combination, the perfect time for me, because I feel strong, I feel mature, and I have a year of experience on this bike," he commented, "I haven't had any problems this winter and I haven't had any for quite some time. I feel ready to start the season in the best way. Plus, this is the first year the team is directly followed by Ducati and has official treatment. Everyone is really gassed about it and some of the changes that have taken place in the team. They are all happy to be wearing Valentino Rossi's colors. The bike is beautiful and we are all very happy, pumped up and ready to start the season."
Looking back on the unique path that brought him to MotoGP, Franco added, "There were other riders who came from the Superbike world, but not from Superstock like I did. Let's say I kind of traced the path and I'm happy about that. I accomplished great things coming from that world: I became Moto2 World Champion and World Champion runner-up in MotoGP; I fought for the championship, for wins, front row and great results. I raced for an official team. I've done great things and I hope I have a lot more to do, but it's definitely something to be proud of. It's not a normal path and it's not easy to come from that world and be performing in a short period of time, as you have to do here. But I have to say that the group I have behind me, Valentino and the guys in the VR46 Academy, have been fundamental to the results I've gotten from where I was coming from."
In addition to joining a new team and wearing new colors, Morbidelli will have the opportunity to work with the experienced Matteo Flamigni this year. His third crew chief in three years.
"Changing crew chief once a year is undoubtedly a change to which one must adapt and which must be understood as quickly as possible. It is definitely an extra unknown. But I got along very well with Matteo from the beginning, partly because I have known him since I was a kid and have always admired him. I've always been a fan of his, because he was always part of Vale's team and so, for me, he was like a superhero," he admitted, "It's a great fortune to have the opportunity to work with him. Throughout my career, I have always been fortunate to work with great crew chiefs. Not really all of them, but most of them. I've been very fortunate in that respect, and I think this is another one of those opportunities."
