With the end of 2023, Franco Morbidelli is no longer linked to Monster Energy Yamaha and is now a rider for Prima Pramac Racing. He replaces Johann Zarco and will ride a Ducati Desmosedici GP24 in the upcoming season starting in March.
At 29 years old, the Italian is starting a new phase in his career. After stints with Marc VDS, Yamaha SRT, and Monster Energy Yamaha, he will be riding a European bike for the first time – and in an Italian team with one of the most competitive machines currently.
The past seasons have been challenging for Morbidelli. The adaptation to the Yamaha factory team was not the best, and the decline in competitiveness of the YZR-M1 compared to the competitors did not make his task easier. Now, he will have to prove his talent once again aboard the reference bike.
The rider has already shown skills to fight at the top: in 2020, in a satellite team, he was the runner-up with three victories, and in 2021 he reached the podium for the last time so far when Yamaha was already showing some weaknesses. Now, Morbidelli will have to confirm that level in the upcoming season.
