Franco Morbidelli :Everything you want to know about ADV News, Photos & Exclusive stories.

<p>VR46 Racing Team has confirmed the signing of Franco Morbidelli for the 2025 <a href="https://www.autox.com/moto-gp/">MotoGP</a> season. The former Yamaha rider will join forces with Fabio di Giannantonio, forming a new-look lineup for Valentino Rossi's squad. Morbidelli, the 2020 MotoGP runner-up, will transition from the Pramac Ducati team to VR46 on a one-year deal. He will continue riding the GP24 Desmosedici, while his teammate di Giannantonio is set to receive the upgraded factory GP25 after securing a direct contract with Ducati. The move comes as Marco Bezzecchi, a three-time Grand Prix winner, departs VR46 to join Jorge Martin at Aprilia for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.</p>

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<p>Franco Morbidelli said: 'What a beautiful story! I am very happy to announce that I have signed with the VR46 Racing Team for the 2025 season. I will definitely feel at home here, I really want to do well and repay, with good results, this trust both for myself and for all the crew. I want to go back in the years and rejoice again with the whole group. A heartfelt thanks to the entire VR46 Riders Academy and to my management. Vale, Carlo, Uccio, Albi and Gianluca. Friends, but also key figures in the VR46 reality. I can't wait to start this new adventure together.'</p>

<h2>MotoGP: About Franco Morbidelli</h2>

<p>The Italian rider claimed the 2017 Moto2 title with Marc VDS before stepping up to MotoGP with the Belgian team on Honda machinery the following year. Morbidelli joined Petronas SRT (Yamaha) in 2019, where he won three races and finished as the championship runner-up in 2020. However, his last MotoGP podium came in mid-2021, after he replaced Maverick Viñales at Monster Yamaha.</p>

<p><img alt="MotoGP Franco Morbidelli" src="/uploads/2024/08/MotoGP-Franco-Morbidelli.jpg" style="width: 1280px; height: 720px;" /></p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/motogp-austrian-gp-heres-when-where-and-how-to-watch-2024-spielberg-race-in-india-118067/">MotoGP Austrian GP: Here’s When, Where and How to Watch 2024 Spielberg Race in India</a></p>

<p>This year, Morbidelli switched to factory Ducati machinery with Pramac but missed all of the pre-season testing due to an injury sustained on a Superbike at Portimão in January. Despite the setback, the 29-year-old has managed a best finish of fourth in a Sprint race and fifth in a Grand Prix, placing him 12th in the world championship standings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>VR46 currently sits fifth in the team standings, ahead of KTM’s factory squad, but two spots behind fellow Ducati satellite team Gresini.</p>


MotoGP: Franco Morbidelli to VR46 Racing Team Confirmed, Replaces Marco Bezzecchi

Franco Morbidelli's move to the VR46 MotoGP team for 2025 has been confirmed, with the 29-year-old currently 12th in the world championship, boasting a best finish of fourth in a Sprint and fifth in a Grand Prix on a Desmosedici.

<p>The Pramac Ducati MotoGP team debuted its drastically altered 2024 livery during the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Bahrain. The satellite Ducati team, driven by Paolo Campinoti, unveiled its unique design as the last team on the current MotoGP grid to reveal its racing colours for the year. Pramac won five races in 2023 with riders Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin, putting them in the title hunt for the 2024 season. The world championship was a close race, and Martin was right up there with Ducati factory team Francesco Bagnaia, but Bagnaia narrowly beat Martin in the final race of the 2023 season. If Martin had won the title, he would have likely been promoted to the factory Ducati squad and paired with Bagnaia for the next season.</p>

<p>Paolo Campinoti, Prima Pramac Racing Team Principal: “Our aim this year is to remain at the top, following the extraordinary results achieved in last year’s Championship. By coming second in the Riders’ Championship and winning the Team World Champion title, we made history as an independent team. 2024 will be an important championship for us: it’ll be a tough call to improve on the last season, but we’re determined to do our very best”.</p>

<p><img alt="MotoGP Prima Pramac Ducati" height="720" src="/uploads/2024/02/MotoGP-Prima-Pramac-Ducati.png" width="1280" /></p>

<p>Jorge Martin, Prima Pramac Racing rider: “2023 was a fantastic year, packed with great results and satisfaction. All that was missing was the icing on the cake right at the end, and I’ll be doing my best to make sure 2024 is even better. I know I’m seen as one of the title candidates even before the season kicks off: this kind of pressure is reserved for only a few riders, and being one of them motivates me even more. I’m part of a team that has everything it takes to make a difference: the bike, the people, and the mindset. Together, we’re starting this season with the determination to take the top spot.”</p>

<p>Franco Morbidelli, Prima Pramac Racing: “2024 is a turning point in my career. I’m joining a team that last year was in the running for the Riders’ Championship title right up until the last race, and took home the Team title. So there are all the ingredients for this to be a memorable season. Unfortunately for me 2024 started with a fall that forced me to miss the pre-season tests, but I’ve now recovered, and I can’t wait to really get to know the Ducati Desmosedici GP24 and to achieve plenty of important results with it.”</p>

<h2>MotoGP: Prima Pramac Racing's Achievement</h2>

<p>Pramac Racing became the first privateer outfit to win the MotoGP Teams' Championship in the previous season, marking a historic milestone. Pramac Racing won the prestigious prize after defeating the factory-backed Ducati Lenovo Team.</p>

<p>Prima Pramac Racing has loftier goals for the next 2024 season. Now they want to win a historic riders' crown, and Jorge Martin is at the head of the pack. Martin is hell-bent on making a triumphant return this year after coming so close to winning the championship in 2023, finishing second to<a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/2024-motogp-qatar-test-ducatis-pecco-bagnaia-dominant-on-second-day-sets-new-lap-record-116240/"> Pecco Bagnaia</a>. With the addition of Franco Morbidelli to the team, Pramac Racing is ready to embark on a thrilling quest for championship triumph.</p>

<p>The Italian rider has joined Pramac after two uneventful seasons with the factory Yamaha squad. <a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/motogp-pramac-shares-update-on-franco-morbidellis-health-post-crash-116000/">A horrific superbike training accident that left Morbidelli</a> unconscious at Portimao in January has severely impeded his preparation for the forthcoming season. Unfortunately, Morbidelli lost all five days of preseason testing due to this.</p>

<p>As a result, Morbidelli will enter next weekend's Qatar season with just the knowledge he obtained during the one-day Valencia test in November of last year as a basis for his Desmosedici expertise. In spite of everything, Morbidelli is going into the season with a strong sense of will and perseverance.</p>


MotoGP: Prima Pramac Ducati Reveals New 2024 Livery Ahead of Qatar GP with Martin, Morbidelli

At the Bahrain International Circuit, Prima Pramac Racing debuted the new Ducati Desmosedici GP24. This happened just before Saturday's first Formula 1 Grand Prix of the season.

<p>Franco Morbidelli suffered a nasty scare during training on a Panigale V4S production Superbike at Portimao on Tuesday. His new Pramac team said that Morbidelli was in training with the VR46 Academy, other MotoGP riders from Ducati, and the WorldSBK field when he had a "bad crash" and was rushed to the hospital for further examinations. Thankfully, precautionary and safety grounds have led to optimistic indicators regarding his current condition. At Turn 9 on the Portimao track, Morbidelli lost control of his Ducati road bike. Both&nbsp;Marc and Alex Marquez helped him make his way back to the pits. Former Petronas Yamaha championship runner-up, who debuted on a Pramac Ducati at Valencia in November, will be riding a Desmosedici GP24 again at the Official Sepang test from February 6-8.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/motogp-icon-valentino-rossi-rides-yamaha-r1-at-wsbk-portimao-test-115987/" rel="bookmark" title="MotoGP Icon Valentino Rossi Rides Yamaha R1 at WSBK Portimao Test">MotoGP Icon Valentino Rossi Rides Yamaha R1 at WSBK Portimao Test</a></p>

<h2>MotoGP: Pramac Ducati and Franco Morbidelli</h2>

<p>After a dreadful 2023 season with Yamaha, Franco Morbidelli has left the Japanese factory and will be racing for Pramac Ducati, where he will race alongside Jorge Martin during the 2024 season. The 2023 season was also a nail-biter for the championship between Jorge Martin of Pramac and Francesco Bagnaia of the factory team Ducati. Bagnaia went on to win the championship.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">After a bad crash, Franco was promptly taken to the hospital for further examinations. Initial tests have provided encouraging indications about his current condition, he will spend the night at Faro Hospital for precautionary and safety reasons. <a href="https://t.co/XFBazXSZLo">pic.twitter.com/XFBazXSZLo</a></p>
— Prima Pramac Racing MotoGP (@pramacracing) <a href="https://twitter.com/pramacracing/status/1752430796231606680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Now that he has a Desmosedici GP24, his concerns over the bike's competitiveness have been addressed. Based on the feedback from riders Pecco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, and Jorge Martín, who have provided limited information on the 2024 version, it is expected to continue in the same vein as its predecessors while also improving upon its predecessor.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/marc-marquez-rides-ducati-panigale-v4-s-in-portimao-sporting-gresini-livery-ahead-of-2024-motogp-season-115982/" rel="bookmark" title="Marc Marquez Rides Ducati Panigale V4 S in Portimao Sporting Gresini Livery Ahead of 2024 MotoGP Season">Marc Marquez Rides Ducati Panigale V4 S in Portimao Sporting Gresini Livery Ahead of 2024 MotoGP Season</a></p>

<p>It's important to note that Morbidelli finished second in the 2020 World Championship. However, since then, he has finished in 13th, 17th, and 19th places. The signing with Ducati comes at a pivotal point in the rider's career, and at the age of 29, he has a fantastic chance to get back to his best in MotoGP.</p>


MotoGP: Pramac Shares Update on Franco Morbidelli's Health Post-Crash

Morbidelli crashed during testing with Ducati MotoGP and VR46 Academy members, including Valentino Rossi, at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in the WorldSBK official pre-season test.

<p>Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro faces consequences ahead of the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix, after being handed a grid penalty and fined for an incident involving Yamaha's Franco Morbidelli during Saturday's third practice. After Morbidelli passed Espargaro on Turn 5, Espargaro tried to pass him again on Turn 6. This is when the two racers collided. However, the two riders clashed during the manoeuvre, sending both to run wide at Turn 6. Espargaro became agitated and smacked Morbidelli on the head. The investigation by the FIM MotoGP stewards resulted in a fine of 10,000 euros and a six-place grid penalty for Espargaro in the Qatar Grand Prix. Due to the on-track incident, the officials felt it necessary to award the penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct.</p>

<p>Aleix Espargaro's punishment was explained by the Stewards as follows:</p>

<p>'On 18" November 2023 at 15;07:19 during QATAR AIRWAYS GRAND PRIX OF QATAR Free Practice 2 session you were observed to have behaved in an aggressive manner including physically striking number 21.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This contravenes Article 3.3.2.2 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations "any corrupt or fraudulent act, or any action of prejudicial to the interests of the meetings or of the sport, carried out by a person or a group of persons occurring during an event". It is therefore an infringement of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations, being detrimental to the interest of the sport.</p>

<p>"For the above reasons, the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel has imposed a fine of 10,000 Euros and 6 Grid Positions penalty for the MotoGP QATAR AIRWAYS GRAND PRIX OF QATAR MotoGP Race."</p>

<h2>MotoGP Qatar GP: Other Incidents</h2>

<p>The strange occurrences involving Pol Espargaro in this weekend's MotoGP. On Friday, Pol Espargaro passed Marco Bezzecchi during a practice session, which appeared to annoy Bezzecchi. Bezzecchi's repeated nudges of Espargaro's KTM as they lined up for practice start, although neither rider was penalised for their actions.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tempers flared between <a href="https://twitter.com/AleixEspargaro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AleixEspargaro</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankyMorbido12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FrankyMorbido12</a> in FP2 earlier on!<br />
<br />
The Spaniard has been fined and handed a 6-place grid penalty for Sunday's race <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QatarGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QatarGP</a> ???????? <a href="https://t.co/0wOq1emo6x">pic.twitter.com/0wOq1emo6x</a></p>
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) <a href="https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1725884393871269983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote>

<p>Lecuona, cruising on the track, impeded Ducati works rider Enea Bastianini during a crucial Q1 lap that could have secured the latter a spot in Q2. Despite the penalty, Lecuona's one-position loss will have minimal consequence, given his qualification in penultimate place, ahead only of LCR colleague Takaaki Nakagami.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Beast is furious! <a href="https://twitter.com/Bestia23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bestia23</a> was up on the lap record before he hit traffic! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QatarGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QatarGP</a> ???????? <a href="https://t.co/3mtbW4cxsM">pic.twitter.com/3mtbW4cxsM</a></p>
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) <a href="https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1725860396546875506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Espargaro's starting position would drop from 10th to 16th due to the penalties. Brad Binder, Augusto Fernandez, Bezzecchi, Fabio Quartararo, Bastianini, and Jack Miller are all better off after the shuffle. As a result, the forthcoming MotoGP race in Qatar is now even more intriguing than it already was before the weekend's events.</p>

<h2>MotoGP Qatar GP 2023: Interesting Facts About Lusail International Circuit</h2>

<p>In less than a year, the Lusail International Circuit was constructed in preparation for the 2004 MotoGP inaugural in Qatar. It is situated on the periphery of Doha, the capital city of Qatar. In less than a year, the Lusail International Circuit was constructed in preparation for Qatar's inaugural MotoGP. Qatar assumed the inaugural hosting of the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2021. Starting in 2023, the nation was granted an additional decade of hosting rights.</p>

<p>The 5.4-kilometre Lusail International Circuit was intentionally engineered to cater specifically to the requirements of motorcycle racing. This circuit features a dynamic configuration comprising both swift and curving segments, alongside a considerable quantity of turns ranging from moderate to high speeds. A substantial portion of the track's total length is made up of its main straight, which is almost 1 km long.</p>


MotoGP Qatar GP: Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro Faces Grid Drop and Fine After Morbidelli Slap

During Saturday's practice at the Qatar MotoGP, a tangle on the track between Aleix Espargaro and Franco Morbidelli quickly got out of hand. After a close call, Espargaro gave the Italian a smack on the head and then rode off.

<p>India has almost made its highly-anticipated MotoGP debut, with Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi leading the way in the opening practice session at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in India, ahead of Honda rider Marc Marquez. Meanwhile, for Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, it was a nightmare after two technical issues prompted the team to call in Franco Morbidelli as a precautionary measure. Digressing a bit&nbsp;from it,&nbsp;Yamaha Motor India has recently hosted a special meet-and-greet event for over a thousand of its employees at the company's manufacturing plant in Surajpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The event ranged from an interaction of the riders from Yamaha's Monster Energy MotoGP&nbsp;team –&nbsp;Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli –&nbsp;with Yamaha employees to having discussions about the riders'&nbsp;journey in the world of MotoGP, sharing insights on their racing strategies, signing autographs, and providing the workforce with mementos.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/motogp-bharat-gp-watch-hondas-marc-marquez-and-suresh-raina-go-for-a-joyride-in-a-royal-enfield-at-bic-114711/">MotoGP Bharat GP: Watch Honda’s Marc Marquez and Suresh Raina go for a Joyride in a Royal Enfield at BIC</a></p>

<p>In the end, both Yamaha Motor India and the&nbsp;Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP racing team expressed gratitude for the support and enthusiasm shown by the Indian fans, while promising an exhilarating performance at the MotoGP Bharat 2023.&nbsp;Yamaha Motor India says that the event not only deepened the connection between the riders and their fans but also showcased&nbsp;Yamaha's unwavering commitment to bringing the excitement of MotoGP closer to enthusiasts in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Yamaha Meet And Greet Event" height="720" src="/uploads/2023/09/Yamaha-Meet-and-Greet-event.jpg" width="1280" /></p>

<h2>BharatGP MotoGP FP1: Race Results</h2>

<p>The first&nbsp;practice session of the IndianOil Grand Prix 2023 began today, i.e., September 22, 2023, with Bezzecchi setting the benchmark with a lap time of 1m45.990s, while Marc Marquez was just +0.139 seconds behind the Ducati rider. Luca Marini and Jorge Martin on their respective Ducatis finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Martin was the first among the two to break the 1m50s time barrier as he clocked in a lap time of 1m49.358s in the first 10 minutes of the extended 70-minute session at the BIC.&nbsp;His VR46 competitor, Marini, responded with a lap time, only 0.017 seconds slower than his teammate.</p>

<p>The lap times at the 4.9 km track were falling rapidly, but on his third attempt, Marini improved by nearly two seconds to record a 1m47.880s lap time. 15 minutes into the session, Aleix Espargaro broke the duopoly of Marini and Martin by improving to a 1m47.611s on a track.&nbsp;However, Martin, who had fallen as low as sixth in the order, returned to&nbsp;the status quo and posted a lap time of 1m46.817s. The day ended with&nbsp;Bezzecchi finishing first with 1m45.990s and Marc Marquez second&nbsp;(+0.139s behind Bezzecchi). KTM rider Brand Binder was third, despite him being the first rider to suffer a crash.</p>

<h2>Quartararo's Performance Struggles at&nbsp;BharatGP MotoGP FP1</h2>

<p>Unfortunately for Fabio Quartararo, his Yamaha motorcycle broke down at the BIC, so he had to pull over near the fence and figure out another way to go back to the pit garage. Shortly after resuming his ride on the backup motorcycle, Fabio had another technical issue with the Yamaha motorcycle, causing him to come to a halt. Soon enough,&nbsp;he pushed the motorcycle all the way back to his assigned pit garage&nbsp;without assistance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It seemed that issues with the gearbox or clutch mechanics were to&nbsp;blame. Because of these setbacks, the Frenchman lost a lot of critical track time, leading the team to worry about his safety. Because of this, they decided to cut Franco Morbidelli's session short and keep him in the pit lane.</p>

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<p>A total of&nbsp;41 teams and 82 riders will be there on the grid. The main race will have 11 teams and 22 riders, while there will be 16 teams &amp; 30 riders in the Moto2 and 14 teams &amp; 30 riders in the Moto3 race. The race event is&nbsp;spread over 3 days with September 22 having practice and September 23 having both practice and qualifying.</p>


MotoGP Bharat GP: Fabio Quartararo, Franco Morbidelli Visit Yamaha Factory Ahead of Indian GP Race

Ahead of the Indian GP Race, Yamaha riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli have made a visit to the company's factory in Surajpur (UP), where Yamaha employees interacted with their racing idols.

<p>Franco Morbidelli has officially signed with Pramac Ducati, where he will race in the 2024 MotoGP season alongside Jorge Martin. A few races ago, Alex Rins was signed away from LCR Honda to take the factory Yamaha rider's place. A switch to Pramac has been widely speculated around ever since it was revealed that he will be leaving Yamaha, where he has spent the previous five seasons. This was made clearer when Marco Bezzecchi opted to remain with the Mooney VR46 Ducati team rather than join Pramac. Franco Morbidelli, the runner-up in the 2020 MotoGP Rider Championship, the 2017 Moto2 World Champion, and the 2013 European Superstock 600 Champion will return the Italian flag to the Pramac Racing team's garage three years after Pecco Bagnaia's departure. The two Yamaha riders, Morbidelli and 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo, are now trailing the overall leader and defending champion Francesco Bagnaia by a significant margin.</p>

<h2>MotoGP: Ducati's Luigi Dall’Igna Welcomes Morbidelli to Factory-Supported Pramac Racing</h2>

<p>Paulo Campinoti, Prima Pramac Racing Team principal, commented on Morbidelli joining Ducati-sponsored Pramac Racing: "I am very happy that Franco is joining our family for 2024. I have an excellent relationship with him, and he has proven to be a champion on many occasions. I am confident that in our team, he will find the right conditions to fight for the positions he deserves."</p>

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<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/motogp-bharat-gp-heres-when-where-and-how-to-watch-indian-gp-in-india-114628/" rel="bookmark" title="MotoGP Bharat GP: Here’s When, Where and How to Watch Indian GP in India">MotoGP Bharat GP: Here’s When, Where and How to Watch Indian GP in India</a></p>

<p>General Manager of Ducati Corse Luigi Dall’Igna said, "It is a pleasure for us to welcome Franco Morbidelli to our factory-supported Pramac Racing team for the upcoming sports season, riding an official Desmosedici GP. Franco is a rider of great talent and experience, and on more than one occasion, he has demonstrated his strength and speed. It's no coincidence that in 2020, he was the <a href="https://www.autox.com/moto-gp/">MotoGP</a> vice-world champion, winning three Grand Prix races. We are confident that, together with the Pramac Racing team and thanks to our support, he will be able to show his full potential. We look forward to embarking on this new exciting adventure together."&nbsp;</p>

<h2>MotoGP: Ducati's Door Closed for Marc Marquez?</h2>

<p>The number of alternatives available to Marc Marquez for the 2024 season is narrowing. With Prima Pramac Racing's signing of Franco Morbidelli on Monday, another piece of the 2024 MotoGP grid puzzle was revealed. There has been much talk in recent weeks regarding the eight-time World champion racing for Ducati if he decides to quit the Repsol Honda Team, where his contract has one more year to run. There have been a few openings as of late, with Gresini Racing being the most widely discussed. Now that Franco Morbidelli is here, Marc can forget about working at Prima Pramac in 2024.</p>

<p><img alt="Marc Marquez 3 " height="720" src="/uploads/2023/06/Marc-Marquez-3-.jpg" width="1280" /></p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/motogp-jack-miller-says-its-possible-he-may-lose-ktm-seat-to-marc-marquez-114634/" rel="bookmark" title="MotoGP: Jack Miller Says 'It's Possible' He May Lose KTM Seat to Marc Marquez">MotoGP: Jack Miller Says 'It's Possible' He May Lose KTM Seat to Marc Marquez</a></p>

<p>Keep in mind that Marquez kept everyone on their toes by explaining at the Misano test that he has "plan A," "plan B," and "plan C" for the future and will reveal his plan during the Indian GP or the Japanese GP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the Misano test, Honda showed off the first 2024 prototype. Almost every aspect of the engine was the same as the one Marc Marquez had been using all 2023. To say the least, Marquez's comments didn't augur well for his future with Honda.</p>


MotoGP: Franco Morbidelli to Race for Pramac Ducati in 2024

Prima Pramac, a satellite team of Ducati, revealed that they have signed Yamaha's Franco Morbidelli for the 2024 MotoGP season. The Italian rider will compete on the 2024 Desmosedici, which will also be used by Factory Ducati riders.

<p>Alex Rins, who joined Honda at the beginning of the 2023 MotoGP season, is reportedly considering switching to Yamaha because of the company's treatment of him. Following Suzuki's exit from MotoGP at the conclusion of the 2022 season, Rins joined the LCR Honda team, and his former teammate Joan Mir joined the factory Honda team to ride with Marc Marquez. The LCR Honda rider had two operations on his tibia and fibula, and he has been chronicling his rehabilitation. Rins is trying to make it back for the MotoGP race at Silverstone on August 6 following the summer break. Although Rins races for a satellite team, he is under direct contract with Honda until the end of 2024. However, his contract has a provision that would enable him to depart early if he were given a factory deal from another team. There have been whispers that Yamaha has already contacted Rins about replacing Franco Morbidelli, since the Italian's results have apparently not been convincing enough for the company to keep him.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/f1-british-grand-prix-mercedes-lewis-hamilton-amazed-by-mclarens-rocket-ship-at-silverstone-113848/" rel="bookmark" title="F1 British Grand Prix: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton Amazed by McLaren's 'Rocket Ship' at Silverstone">F1 British Grand Prix: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton Amazed by McLaren's 'Rocket Ship' at Silverstone</a></p>

<h2>MotoGP: Why Alex Rins is important for Honda?</h2>

<p><img alt="MotoGP Alex Rins" height="720" src="/uploads/2023/07/MotoGP-Alex-Rins.jpg" width="1280" /></p>

<p>Only Honda's Alex Rins has ever taken home a race victory for the Japanese manufacturer. Honda would lose its best rider in 2023 if Rins decided to leave the team after the Spaniard won the April 2023 United States Grand Prix. In America, Rins also voiced his displeasure with Honda's treatment, namely that the company had passed him by while testing new components. In April, he remarked that Honda didn't care about him.</p>

<p>It has been reported that Rins asked to test the chassis being considered by Marquez and Mir, and the matter escalated when Marquez tested, raced, and eventually abandoned the Kalex chassis that Rins had also sought to test. It looks that Rins is not interested in finishing out his LCR contract under the present circumstances, and he may be open to joining Yamaha despite the fact that Yamaha is also having performance issues in MotoGP.</p>

<p><img alt="MotoGP Alex Rins 1 " height="720" src="/uploads/2023/07/MotoGP-Alex-Rins-1-.jpg" width="1280" /></p>

<p>Ai Ogura, Honda's next indigenous hope, has a remote possibility of graduating due to her injury, although she has been off the pace while healing from a complex wrist ailment. A promising finish at Assen raised hopes for the rest of the year, but the setback is likely to delay his promotion by Honda until at least 2025.</p>

<p>If Alex Rins does leave for Yamaha, Honda is expected to put WorldSBK rider Iker Lecuona on the LCR bike. The Spaniard has participated in a few replacement races, has previous MotoGP experience, and has been lauded for his technical comments, all of which Honda could use right now.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.autox.com/motorsport-news/f1-british-grand-prix-red-bulls-max-verstappen-wins-in-silverstone-ahead-of-lando-norris-and-lewis-hamilton-113845/" rel="bookmark" title="F1 British Grand Prix: Red Bull's Max Verstappen Wins in Silverstone Ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton">F1 British Grand Prix: Red Bull's Max Verstappen Wins in Silverstone Ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton</a></p>

<h2>Honda dominates MotoGP and Marc Marquez</h2>

<p><img alt="MotoGP Marc Marquez " height="720" src="/uploads/2023/06/MotoGP-Marc-Marquez-.jpg" width="1280" /></p>

<p>After a dismal start to the season, speculation over six-time MotoGP champion Marc's future has spread around the circuit. Although rumours have circulated that he may want to leave Honda a year early, he is presently under contract as long as the end of 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="MotoGP Honda Marc Marques" height="720" src="/uploads/2023/06/MotoGP-Honda-Marc-Marques.jpg" width="1280" /></p>

<p>Honda's premier-class programme was severely hampered by Marquez's injury problems because of how dependent the company was on its star rider. However, now that Marquez is confident that he is fully recovered, the relative competitiveness of the Honda RC213V has become the bigger issue, as the era's most iconic rider is unable to propel it to the front without putting himself in serious danger.</p>

<p>Some have speculated that Honda's recent decline is attributable to the COVID-19 epidemic and, in particular, how it hampered the Japanese brands' operations at home and abroad, especially in what is still obviously very much a European championship.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/why-honda-seriously-risks-losing-rins-to-a-motogp-rival/10491754/">Source</a></p>


MotoGP: Honda Faces a Serious Risk of Losing Alex Rins to this Rival Team

At embattled Honda, there is a genuine risk of a mass exodus, as injured riders weigh whether or not they want to spend their weekends avoiding injury. As it turns out, Honda may have trouble retaining its pilots within the team as well as on their motorcycles.

Franco Morbidelli