MotoGP | Tegola Morbidelli: also skips tests in Qatar

Winter is almost over for MotoGP, which returned to the track today for the first of three days of collective testing in Sepang. However, Franco Morbidelli is missing, forced to withdraw to recover from the bad crash he suffered in spite of himself in the Portimao tests earlier this month. If his presence in Malaysia was in doubt, today comes the news: not only will he miss the remaining two days of testing in Sepang, but he will also be forced to act as a spectator in the tests in Qatar, scheduled for the middle of this month.

The Pramac team itself broke the news, announcing the Roman rider's withdrawal with a statement released on its social channels. The adventure in Ducati certainly didn't start in the best way Soft, which until now has only been able to test the Desmosedici during the Valencia tests. In Portimao he was instead riding the road Panigale when he crashed at Turn 9 in the afternoon of the last day of SBK testing in which the Ducati MotoGP riders also took part (with the exception of Jorge Martin).

Promptly helped by the Marquez brothers who arrived at that moment, Morbidelli was taken first to the medical center and then to the hospital. There, he underwent an initial CT scan which detected a small blood clot in his head and he remained under observation for about two days. Upon returning to Italy, he underwent further tests and the doctors preferred to keep him at rest.

“Yesterday afternoon Franco Morbidelli was visited by Prof. Franco Servadei, neurologist and Dr. Roberto Donati for a further evaluation of his condition after the bad accident that occurred during the private tests in Portimao”, reads the note released by the team. “The Roman rider of the Prima Pramac Team, despite being in good general condition, preferred to undergo an in-depth examination before deciding whether or not to leave for Sepang. After the results of the various tests, which revealed a good general clinical picture, Prof. Franco Servadei nevertheless advised Morbidelli, as a precaution, not to resume sporting activity for the next three weeks, so Franco will not be able to not even be present at the next official test in Qatar (19-20 February)”.

The note concludes with a prediction of his return to action, which could coincide with the Qatar Grand Prix: “His return to the track is therefore expected for the first GP of the 2024 MotoGP season scheduled, again on the Lusail International Circuit, from 8 to 10 March”. The 2024 season will open in Lusail at the beginning of March, where we should see Franco Morbidelli again, ready to begin his adventure in Ducati after the last difficult years spent in Yamaha.