Franco Morbidelli spent around ten laps leading the MotoGP Qatar GP – despite only finishing third, getting a podium result.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 rider couldn’t maintain the momentum until the end in Losail, yielding to the Ducati Lenovo machines of Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia, as well as Maverick Viñales.
In fact, Morbidelli crossed the finish line in fourth, but benefited from the penalty handed to the Red Bull KTM Tech3 Spaniard to climb to third and secure his second podium of the year.
It was also the first time in about two years that the #21 led a race – and now he wants to feel that again, as he made clear after Sunday’s race:
– I hadn’t led a race since Argentina 2023. It was a Sprint race, so it was a little bit different. And now it was 10/11 laps, so much more time up there. And it felt great. I want more, yes!