Franco Morbidelli Recalls Hilarious Crash During First Track Session with MotoGP Legend Valentino Rossi

Franco Morbidelli recounts a humorous event from his inaugural ride with Valentino Rossi

Pramac MotoGP racer reminisces about his initial experience riding alongside Rossi

Franco Morbidelli admits he was so overwhelmed by MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi that he ended up crashing during their first track session together.

Presently with Pramac, Morbidelli was among the first to join Rossi’s VR46 Academy. This initiative, created by the nine-time world champion over ten years ago, aims to develop young racing talents from Italy.

In 2017, Morbidelli achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first rider from the VR46 Academy to clinch a world championship title, securing the Moto2 crown. He was also the pioneering member to advance to MotoGP and the first to secure a victory in the premier class.

In an interview on MotoGP’s podcast before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last weekend, Morbidelli shared a humorous story about his initial experience on the track with Rossi.

“Absolutely, the first time I saw Vale on the track, I was so stunned that I crashed,” he recalled.

"Undoubtedly, as time goes on, this feeling diminishes, but when you're with him and pause to consider his capabilities, accomplishments, and the consistent effort he puts in every moment of his life, it leaves you astonished. Therefore, I still feel that way."

Franco Morbidelli's path to grand prix racing was not typical. The Italian rider competed in the European Superstock 600 series, winning the championship in 2013, before advancing to Moto2 in 2014.

When discussing his initial encounter with Rossi, Morbidelli explained, "I was just a young racer, competing on mini bikes."

"My father, who used to race in the 1970s, competed in the Pesaro region."

“When things began to get more serious and it seemed like I was actually going to become a rider, he chose to provide me with the best environment he had experienced in his own career.”

"We relocated from Rome to Pesaro, a region renowned for producing top-notch champions, including, in my opinion, the greatest rider of all time."

"We relocated here, and through some connections, my father reached out to Graziano Rossi to see if I could join their training sessions."

At the age of 12, I was already practicing with Marco Simoncelli and Valentino Rossi. Even at that young age, I was a really aggressive rider. I was riding a Yamaha 450 and already competing fiercely with them.

For the first time ever, Morbidelli is set to compete with Rossi’s team in the world championship as he transitions to the VR46 squad to ride the 2024 Ducati model.

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