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.
On the first day of practice for the 2023 Thai MotoGP, Jorge Martin topped the field with a set of new medium tyres, followed by Maverick Vinales, Pol Espargaro, and Aleix Espargaro. Yamaha's Franco Morbidelli finished in a respectable fifth place.
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.
Team owner Lucio Ceccinello is "very excited" to have Zarco join LCR for the upcoming season. Zarco is expected to play a key role in Honda's efforts to regain its former glory and return to the forefront of MotoGP.
At the end of 2023, Johann Zarco will be leaving Prima Pramac Racing to join LCR Honda, replacing Yamaha-bound Alex Rins. Zarco has previously raced for LCR and Honda three times since departing KTM in mid-2019.