Franco Morbidelli Battles Back: A Dramatic Japanese GP After Marquez Clash

Franco Morbidelli described his race as "completely different" following a contact with Marquez, noting that "the speed is there."

Beginning from the sixth position on the starting grid, Franco Morbidelli moved up one spot during the initial corner of the Japanese MotoGP race on Sunday.

When Marc Marquez attempted an inside overtake on the Pramac Ducati racer at Turn 2, Morbidelli was pushed wide on the exit, dropping him to eighth position.

This became the seventh position after Pedro Acosta had an accident and exited the race. However, it wasn't until the eighth lap out of the 24 that Morbidelli managed to pass Jack Miller, who was riding a KTM and known for his late braking.

The Italian rider dedicated much of the final laps to attempting to overtake Brad Binder's RC16 bike, ultimately succeeding in moving ahead of the South African competitor to claim fifth place with three laps left in the race.

"It's been a solid race with a commendable performance," remarked Morbidelli. "I had an excellent start, but then Marc bumped into me at Turn 2. I ended up going over the kerb and dropped a few positions."

"After that point, my race changed entirely. It became a challenge of regaining my position and attempting to surpass the KTMs, which are notoriously hard to pass. They have a deep braking capability and impressive acceleration."

"I spent quite a bit of time trailing Jack, but it was an exciting battle with him and later with Brad. Ultimately, it was a race full of competition, and we managed to secure 5th place, marking another solid conclusion to the weekend."

Morbidelli believes he might have had a chance to compete for a podium position if it weren't for the incident with Marquez.

However, bike number 21 emphasized that due to the challenges of overtaking, an assertive early push, similar to what Marquez and Jorge Martin from the Pramac team executed, is crucial for achieving a favorable outcome.

"The goal was to compete for a spot on the podium," Morbidelli remarked. "The gap between finishing in fifth place and securing third, second, or first is minimal. You notice that riders who begin further back and exhibit optimism or bravery to advance in the initial laps tend to maintain their position."

"It's quite challenging to start in seventh or eighth position during the initial three laps and then manage to advance to a podium finish. It's crucial to make progress right from the first lap and carve out your path early on. This weekend, Marc and Jorge excelled in doing just that."

What additional steps must Morbidelli take to secure his first MotoGP podium finish since 2021, following his top-five results in the recent three races?

"We have to ensure everything comes together perfectly. This includes a strong qualifying session, a clean start, and avoiding any contact in the initial laps. It's important to be assertive early on, as I usually drop a few spots at the beginning, except for the race in Mandalika," he explained.

"It's about combining all the elements. The pace is already present."

Franco Morbidelli, who was unable to participate in any pre-season tests because of a head injury, has climbed to eighth place in the world championship standings.

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