Franco Morbidelli was among the fastest in the MotoGP test held on Monday in Jerez. The Prima Pramac rider was third, 0.122s behind leader Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46/Ducati), completing 82 laps that allowed him to make up for the setback he suffered by missing the preseason due to injury.
More than the lap times, the Italian left this test with a confidence boost, after taking decisive steps in adapting and tuning the bike, as well as in getting along with the team:
– We go home with a big confidence boost and a great feeling. We had a great feeling in the test and were able to do the work that we were missing. So we adapted the tuning to what I feel suits me best. It’s not that different compared to normal. But it’s good to adapt, have my own tuning, and ride my own bike. Furthermore, I needed 80 laps on this bike to really tune in with the setup. Another thing that was verified and also working a full day with the group is another thing to check and it’s another positive thing to do. I’m really happy with the test and the speed was good, so I’m very happy.
Still gaining experience with the Ducati Desmosedici GP24, Morbidelli emphasized the importance of this test day: ‘I’m in the early stage of my experience with this Ducati, so we definitely need more experience. But a test like this is very useful, a test where you do 80 laps, and especially where you do 80 laps quickly‘.
The next official test will be in Mugello, and the 2020 vice-champion acknowledged that, like the others, it will be important for him because he missed the pre-season: ‘For me, this year the tests will be very important, because I missed five days of testing at the beginning of the year. If we want to achieve good results, which is possible and we have the potential to do, we have to work a bit differently, be more open to trying new things and be more willing to step into the unknown, because we don’t have the experience from those five days at the beginning of the year. But I think that’s what we will do because the potential is there, so I think we need to do it‘.