Morbidelli carrying “a great weight” as a MotoGP title contender

The Petronas SRT rider came to within 13 points of the 2020 title on his older ‘A-spec’ Yamaha after winning three races and emerging as the Japanese marque’s leading runner.

Despite remaining on the ‘A-spec’ M1 – which was given “substantial” updates during testing – many expect Morbidelli to once again be a factor in the title battle across the 2021 campaign, which begins this weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix.

Giving his thoughts ahead of the new season, Morbidelli said: “I’m ready for this first GP of the year.

“I feel really good, I had a great winter, I had good testing, I feel good. I have great trust from last year’s results.

“I have also a great weight to carry, a new weight to carry, which is the weight of [being] one of the favourites.

“So, it’s a weight that I’m happy to carry. I will try to make my best, make my maximum.

“I will try to face the weekend as I’ve been last year, so with lots of technical aggressiveness and trust and courage.

“And I will try to ride as last year, so smooth and fast hopefully.

“That’s what I’ll try to do, let’s see if I manage to.”

Franco Morbidelli, Petronas Yamaha SRT

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The 2021 grid is one of the closest in MotoGP history, after nine riders won races last season across a mix of factory team and works-supported satellite machinery.

This has led to a title favourite card being stacked with talent, but Morbidelli admits if he doesn’t end up beating them “it won’t be a disaster”.

“I’m hoping for the best, but I’m also prepared for the worst,” he added.

“So, I’m hoping to beat those guys. I work to beat those guys and I want to beat those guys, but if I don’t manage to it won’t be a disaster, that’s for sure.

“There are many of those guys because this is MotoGP and this is full of young and also experienced, strong riders.

“So, it’s tough, it’s not easy and it doesn’t always depend on things you know, it doesn’t always depend on things you can control.

“I take it as it is, a super tough challenge that needs to be taken with lots of courage and commitment.

“That’s what I will do, and if I don’t manage to, that’s too bad. Life goes on.”