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Fourth at the checkered flag, but fifty minutes after the end of the Qatar GP decreed third on the day, thanks to Maverick Vinales' demotion for below-permissible tire pressure, Franco Morbidelli greeted the surprise podium finish with entirely understandable joy.
"I think finishing in the top three positions is the right ending to this weekend, the way we started it and the way we progressed. We deserved this result so I am happy. Do I feel deprived of something? No, we celebrated so much in the pit box and we will celebrate so much tonight," he said immediately after.
Speaking of the frantic early stages of the race when he found himself dictating the pace ahead of Marc Marquez, the Italian-Brazilian admitted that he rode more with his heart than with his head. "I couldn't handle the tire drop well. When both Marc and Vinales passed me, I realized that I should have been more conservative at the beginning of the race and at that point I was too conservative. Not for nothing in the last seven laps I had a great pace. It's okay though, we were very fast and that's what counts," was his reflection before talking about his 11 laps in the lead.
"I missed leading a race, it hadn't occurred since the Argentine GP 2023 Sprint. Here, however, it was different since it was the long race, moreover, I even managed to take some margin. I felt like I was flying. It was good and we have to continue like this because I want more."
When asked if he initially believed that the others were administering their race, Morbido replied, "I didn't and instead I should have, administering a lot more myself." After the mea culpa came the thanks to VR46 Racing. "The team is immolating itself for the cause and I personally feel very good in this box. We have to continue to do as we are doing. The season started with the ambition to be in the top 4-5 in all the races and because of the work we have done and are doing, we are succeeding," he said, revealing that he has not yet spoken with team owner Valentino Rossi: "He left without knowing about the podium. I think we will meet later to celebrate."
On the penalty given to Maverick, the 30-year-old claimed, "I feel sorry for him because he had had a great race and was really fast. As far as I'm concerned, it was nerve-wracking waiting for the verdict. It happened to me before in Indonesia last year, but this time the outcome was positive and it feels great."
Finally on the head-to-head with Zarco, he said, "You could see he had potential, but on mine I had more rubber and I was able to pass him in Turn 1."
