A driver's career is made up of curves and straights, of Grands Prix more akin to the rider on duty and others that are more complicated. In a real sense but also metaphorically, because the path of every driver is made up of good moments and other less beautiful ones to be managed, however, with the same balance. Franco Morbidelli's career has certainly not been a "linear Grand Prix", a rider capable of both reaching extraordinary heights and dealing with a series of disappointments.
The beginnings
Originally from the Roman district of San Giovanni, Franco inevitably has two wheels in his DNA. His father Livio, in fact, was Italian vice-champion in the 80 and 125 classes. It is inevitable that he took his talent from him, while from his mother Cristina De Franco (Brazilian, which is why he always has the tricolor and green-gold flags on the case) he took the calm and the desire to have fun, important qualities for a driver).
At the age of 10 he moved to Babbucce: it is a hamlet of Tavullia, a town that inevitably refers to an iconic name for two wheels. His intent, in fact, is to become one of the first members of Valentino Rossi's academy. The VR46 Riders Academy will then support him in the continuation of his career, especially for the transition to Moto2 from the minor championships. Before this step, there is an apprenticeship that starts in 2009. This is the year in which he takes part in the 125 Class European Championship, held in a single race in Albacete.
Riding an Aprilia RS125R he did not finish the race, retiring on the second lap. In 2011 he finished sixth in the CIV Stock 600 and made his debut in the European Superstock 600, running four races aboard a Yamaha YZF-R6 of the Forward Racing Jr team. In 2012 he finished sixth in the same category, collecting a third place, while in the CIV Superstock 600 he finished second after a long battle with Riccardo Russo and three races won. In 2013 he won the first laurel of his career, as he became European champion with a Kawasaki ZX-6R of San Carlo Team Italia (FIM team, to promote young Italian talents).
Also in 2013, despite not obtaining any points from the regulations, he competed in four races - winning three - in the Italian Stock 600 championship. The last steps before the jump to the World Championship.
The experience in Moto2 and the triumph in 2017
Morbidelli's impact with the World Championship coincided with the end of his apprenticeship. In 2013, in fact, in addition to Superstock, he also raced in the Moto2 class of the world championship at the Grand Prix of San Marino, Japan and the Valencian Community on the Suter MMX2 of the Gresini Racing team.
In 2014 he became a regular rider in the Italtrans Racing team, which entrusted him with a Kalex Moto2. He obtained his first world championship points in Argentina and as his best result a fifth place at the Aragon GP and finished the season in eleventh place with 75 points.
In 2015 he remained in the same team, obtaining his first podium in the world championship in Indianapolis that season, finishing in third position. The year was troubled: he was, in fact, forced to miss the Grand Prix of Great Britain, San Marino, Aragon and Japan due to the fracture of the tibia and fibula of his right leg remedied in training. He ended the season in tenth place with 90 points.
In 2016 he moved to the Marc VDS Racing team, growing as the races went by. In the second half of the season, he collected four second places and as many thirds, finishing the World Championship in fourth place. Now Morbidelli was ready to fight for the title and he demonstrated it, splendidly, the following year.
In fact, 2017 is his perfect season. Aboard the same bike as the previous year, he got off to a flying start with four victories in the first five races. He maintained a constant pace and made the gap behind him, winning the World Championship with 308 points (65 more than his first rival, the Swiss Thomas Luthi). The greatest joy of his career, as well as the pass for the category of the greats.
The years in moto gp: Ups and downs
For the 2018 season he therefore moved to the MotoGP class, always remaining in the Marc VDS Racing team. The first year in the new category is clearly one of acclimatization for Morbidelli, who finishes eighth in Australia as his best result. The following year, moving to the Petronas Yamaha SRT team riding a Yamaha YZR-M1, he managed to improve in terms of points (115, compared to 50 last year) and position in the final standings (tenth, while the previous season he had finished fifteenth).
The following years, between Yamaha and Ducati, saw the Italian-Brazilian rider as the absolute protagonist in fact, in 2020, he was one step away from winning his second World Championship of his career. The start was uphill, then Morbidelli grew and engaged in a duel with the Spaniard Joan Mir for the top. Despite the excellent end of the season by the Roman rider, with two first places and a third in the last four Grands Prix, in the end it was Mir who triumphed.
Certainly a bitter pill to swallow for Morbidelli, followed by three championships lived between injuries and races not up to par due to Yamaha's technical debacle.
In 2024 he signed for Pramac, however, a monstrous accident that took place in Portimao, before Ducati the pre-season tests, seriously jeopardized his career and certainly the start of the season.
Despite this, he is gradually finding his best form as evidenced by the latest results. His hope, that of his family and his fans is that he will continue on this path: perhaps also thanks to the reunion with his teacher Valentino Rossi. In fact, the move to the VR46 Racing team for the 2025 season is official.
Good luck, Franco
