Franco Morbidelli Channels Ayrton Senna in MotoGP Race

Yamaha rider says he was inspired by his heroes in latest win.

Franco Morbidelli talks about his state of mind at Aragón and the focus on the M1 going forward.Yamaha Racing

One day the student becomes the master. Or so it seemed at Aragón, when the first student of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy proved to be a master in the art of riding a motorcycle, and winning.

“The victory is handy, I will attack and give it all: everything or nothing,” Morbidelli had warned on the eve of the 11th round of the 2020 MotoGP championship at Aragón, Spain. He wanted it all. He got it all: the victory and the chance to be back in the title chase with just 25 points between him and the point leader Joan Mir.

Morbidelli’s latest win puts him back in the chase for the title.MotoGP

The crazy season has been without the wily Marc Márquez, and has seen the master, Valentino Rossi, sabotaging his quest for a 10th title by crashing three times in a row, and then being forced to sit out two races with COVID-19. Rossi’s comfort came from watching the triumph of his friend and favorite student.

Related Content: Morbidelli Takes Teruel GP

For on Sunday, came the masterpiece: Morbidelli took advantage of pole-starter Takaaki Nakagami’s crash, and on a 2019 Yamaha M1 grabbed the lead, imposing a frenzied pace and building a safe margin lap after lap. Behind him, Suzuki riders Álex Rins and Joan Mir, mounted on faster and more balanced bikes, had to settle for the lower steps of the podium.

Morbidelli says he was in an almost supernatural state of mind during the race.MotoGP

A Mystic Experience

Born to a Brazilian mother and Italian father, Morbidelli often refers to his two cultures. “Usually I ride [with] strong Italian rationality, and I allow myself the luxury of the Brazilian lightheartedness only in the last three laps. This time, it was completely different; it was pure Brazilian concentration,” Morbidelli said in the parc fermé after the race. Frankie looked upward to fully taste the intense joy of his exceptional victory, as he had done a few minutes earlier on the finish line, sending a kiss to the sky. Life has not been kind to him; the premature loss of his father could have knocked him down. Instead, Franco found in himself an inner strength to react, and to win.

“I knew I had to be aggressive, and when I saw free space in front of me, I gave it [my] all. I was incredibly focused from start to finish. I was like in a trance: 23 laps seemed like only two. Everything came so exceptionally simple, and was [as] natural as drinking a glass of water,” he added. He thought of one of his heroes, Ayrton Senna, who, together with Rossi and Lewis Hamilton, occupies an important place in his heart.

“My mom is Brazilian and I grew up with the myth of Ayrton Senna. Until Sunday I had never really understood what he meant when he ran that perfect lap at Monte Carlo in 1988, the fastest in F1 history. I didn’t believe that [was] almost a supernatural experience. I am extremely rational and not so religious, but in the race on Sunday I felt something different. I was riding so fast, pushing at the limits, but everything was so natural. It will be difficult to replicate this special state of mind. The team…did an excellent job, and put me in the condition [of only] thinking of the race. But what I learned is that the human mind has incredible power and we only use a small part of it.”

Frankie rewound the race. “At the start there was a small contact with Nakagami. I remained calm. When I find myself in some difficult situations, I ask myself, What would Valentino do in my place?…and I find the answer. I was one of Rossi’s first riders [at his] academy. Valentino was the only one who believed in my potential. He is an inspiration for me. I observe how he reacts to different situations and I learn from him. He is a smart guy with a lot of experience, but also very creative and curious.”

Citing influences like Ayrton Senna and Valentino Rossi, Morbidelli says the key for the remaining three races is focus.Yamaha Racing


World Championship

With three races to go and only 25 points away from the leader, Morbidelli is back in the title chase. “The other day I was out, [but] now I’m among the [contenders]. This is an unpredictable championship. Besides Mir, there are three Yamahas in the game: myself, [Fabio] Quartararo, and [Maverick] Viñales. The key is to not make mistakes, and remain focused. Winning the title seems irrational, but nothing is impossible if you believe it totally. The history of sport is rich with examples. I will give it [my] all, working hard till the final round in Portimão.”

Lessons Learned

The 2020 championship has been a roller coaster for the majority of the riders, maybe with the exception of Mir, the most consistent one on the grid, who is leading the championship without having won a race yet. But Morbidelli sees the silver lining: “The 2019 season was an important lesson, [and] it was maybe the first time that I was beaten by my teammate, and believe me, it hurts. Having Quartararo as a teammate is a source of pressure, but also a consistent motivation to grow. From Fabio I learned a hard work ethic. This year I don’t feel inferior and [am determined] to focus only on myself. [Unlike] Quartararo and Viñales, I am on the 2019 M1 bike. We need to focus to extract the best from it.”

Social Message

Making comparisons has never helped the Italo-Brazilian rider, who endured discrimination for his skin color when he was a kid at school in Rome. “Athletes have a privileged platform and a social mission. In motorsports Lewis Hamilton is the reference. He has the authority to be a champion of social issues. I am not black, but am ‘more colored’ than not, and this matter is dear to me. Maybe I should take his example and become an ambassador of social values in MotoGP. But first I need to earn some credibility on the track. This is crucial if you want to raise your voice and be heard.”

Winning races like Ayrton Senna was the first step to stand out from the crowd for Morbidelli. Winning the championship in the name of those who have suffered from discrimination and diversity could be the crowning touch in his path as a rider and as a person.


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