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After the excellent premises in the tests, Franco Morbidelli's start of the season in Thailand was like a breath of fresh air in the hot temperatures at the Buriram circuit. Due to his injury last year, Franco had been forced to chase, so the first championship appointment left with a great feeling. If a fifth place in the Sprint had been more than positive, the fourth place in the race, with a grid penalty, was the confirmation that this could be a very different season for Franco Morbidelli on the GP24.
"I didn't expect this kind of race after starting from ninth on the grid because of the penalty," Morbidelli began. "I was playing it by ear, and I didn't have great ambitions at the start, but then I saw that I had a lot of potential, and I tried to make my way through the group as soon as possible. I had fun doing what were perhaps the only overtakes of the race because, with this race, this sauna," he said jokingly, "it was really hard to overtake. I really gave a lot to establish myself over Miller, Fernandez, and Ogura. When I got on Pecco, I made a mistake and lost the distance, and the tire by then was gone."
Aren't these kinds of extreme races risky?
"It's definitely a factor that increases the difficulty and risks of the race. On lap seventeen, the bike began to felle a bit tricky, and I had to get even more space, otherwise I wouldn't have made it."
Compared to the start of the season last year, the difference in your confidence, happiness, and awareness is evident.
"I'm happy. In fact, enthusiastic. I'm really eager to get to the races. I can't wait to be in Argentina. I want to see the team. We're a great team. Definitely being competitive gives us a special charge. You can feel it, and it's nice."
You're very close to Lucio Corsi. I one of his performances, he said that even mice can fly. Given this start of the season, does that phrase also mean something to you?
"I think so."
