Franco Morbidelli, representing MotoGP, was a special guest at the Festival dello Sport, hosted by Gazzetta dello Sport. Alongside him was Pramac Racing’s Paolo Campinoti, where both shared key insights into Morbidelli’s career and the future of MotoGP’s ever-evolving paddock.
In a candid conversation, Morbidelli revisited some of the pivotal moments of his career. One such moment was the serious accident in Portugal that almost derailed his career before the start of the season. The accident left him with not only physical injuries but memory issues as well, a terrifying ordeal that saw him lose recognition of his family for a week. “It was one of the worst moments of my career,” Morbidelli confessed, admitting that he doubted if he would ever return to his former self. However, after a long recovery, the Brazilian-Italian rider is back in form, competing for “interesting positions” and looking optimistically toward his future with VR46 in 2025.
Meanwhile, Campinoti, the head of Pramac Racing, expressed his admiration for Morbidelli, hinting that the rider still has unfinished business with his current team. “I would have kept him at Pramac; he needs to win a race to complete the circle,” Campinoti said, praising Morbidelli’s determination and growth. The Pramac boss also commented on the team’s future, revealing that Pramac will become Yamaha’s satellite team in 2025, ending their long-standing relationship with Ducati. Campinoti emphasized the professionalism of Ducati during this transition, stating, “They are behaving impeccably with us.”
However, Campinoti didn’t hold back his disagreement with Ducati’s latest high-profile signing of Marc Márquez as Pecco Bagnaia’s teammate. He voiced his concerns about the internal dynamics of Ducati’s factory team, stating, “They have made a choice with which I do not agree.” Campinoti predicted inevitable tension within the team, adding, “It is useless to believe that it will not be like that.” He was also critical of Ducati’s decision to prioritize Márquez at the expense of key talents like Jorge Martín and Enea Bastianini, both of whom he believes deserved more chances. “They have sacrificed many people, including us and riders like Jorge or Bastianini, all for one person,” Campinoti said sharply.
Returning to his Brazilian roots, Morbidelli closed the event by showing a helmet he wore during the 2020 Misano GP, where he clinched his first MotoGP victory. The helmet bore the phrase “Do the Right Thing,” inspired by Spike Lee’s iconic film. Morbidelli explained the significance behind it, reflecting on the need for greater tolerance and understanding in the world, a message as relevant on the racetrack as it is off it.
As Morbidelli prepares for his next chapter with VR46 and Campinoti navigates Pramac’s future with Yamaha, both figures seem poised for significant developments in the seasons to come.