Franco Morbidelli’s passion for motorcycles comes from his father Livio, an Italian ex-rider, who built his son his first bike when he was just two years old. The Morbidellis then moved to Pesaro, near Tavullia, where Franco’s education continued in the smaller Italian categories and after two years of success he spent a season racing in Spain in the Cuna de Campeones series. His next step was to move up to the European Superstock 600 Championship, winning the title in 2013.
Morbidelli’s good results in that series opened the door for three wildcard rides in the Moto2 World Championship in 2013, in San Marino, Japan and Valencia. The following season he was offered a full-time spot in the series, making gradual progress before finishing fourth in 2016 and then, after taking eight wins and twelve podiums, being crowned Moto2 World Champion in 2017.
Following his success in the Moto2 class, Morbidelli earned a shot in the MotoGP World Championship in 2018, showing his ability over the course of a positive season, which he ended on a high at Valencia when he secured of Rookie of the Year.
Morbidelli joined the ambitious Petronas Yamaha SRT Team for 2019, setting loftier targets in his second season at the elite level of motorcycle racing. He made regular top six appearances throughout the year, improving from a difficult start of the year to take three front row starts and a career-best finish of fifth twice.
Staying with the same team for 2020, Morbidelli enjoyed his best MotoGP campaign to date. A breakthrough podium at Brno in round three was shortly followed by a sublime maiden victory at Misano for the San Marino GP just three races later. His first pole position was earned at the Catalan GP, and excellent late-season form, in which he scored two more victories at the Teruel and Valencia GPs, saw him claim second in the riders' championship.
For 2021, Morbidelli remained with the Petronas Yamaha SRT Team, joined by mentor and nine-time Grand Prix world champion, Valentino Rossi. He scored a podium at the Jerez round but injured his knee during training, which saw him miss five races. On his return from injury, he joined the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team for the remainder of the season, competing in the last five GPs and recording two point-scoring finishes.
The Italian stayed with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team in 2022 and enjoyed a positive start to the year with strong rides to 11th in Qatar and seventh in Indonesia. He scored points consistently throughout the season and ended 2022 positively with another top-ten finish at Valencia.
For 2023, Morbidelli will again race for the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team alongside his teammate Fabio Quartararo.
Personal Details:
Date of birth: 04-12-1994
Nationality: Italy
Height: 176cm
Weight (kg): 64kg
Total Races: 133 (62 x MotoGP, 71 x Moto2)
Victories: 11 (3 x MotoGP, 8 x Moto2)
Pole positions: 8 (2 x MotoGP 6 x Moto2)
Podiums: 27 (6 x MotoGP, 21 x Moto2)
First Grand Prix: San Marino, 2018 (Moto3)
First Pole position: 2017
Career Summary:
2022: 19th - MotoGP, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team
2021: 17th - MotoGP, Petronas Yamaha SRT Team/Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team
2020: 2nd - MotoGP, Petronas Yamaha SRT Team
2019: 10th - MotoGP, Petronas Yamaha SRT Team
2018: 15th - MotoGP
2017: Champion - Moto2
2016: 4th - Moto2
2015: 10th - Moto2
2014: 11th - Moto2
2013: Champion - European SuperStock 600cc / 31st - Moto2 (3 races)
2012: 6th - European SuperStock 600cc
2011: 17th - European SuperStock 600cc