Morbidelli to miss MotoGP Dutch TT with knee injury
Franco Morbidelli will miss this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix after the Petronas SRT MotoGP rider injured his knee in training.
The three-time MotoGP race winner injured his left knee earlier this month during a training incident at Valentino Rossi’s VR46 ranch.
Morbidelli first disclosed the injury when he fell practicing a bike swap in practice at Barcelona, when he fell as his knee gave way.
The Italian has since aggravated that injury on Tuesday in another training incident.
The injury has proven enough for him to be ruled out of this weekend’s ninth round of the season at Assen.
A statement from SRT read: “Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team can confirm that Franco Morbidelli will miss this weekend’s DutchGP due to an injury to his left knee sustained in training today.
“The injury is sufficient to mean Franco will miss this weekend’s event and he is undergoing medical assessment to determine the best course of action for recovery.
“Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team wishes Franky a speedy recovery.”
Franco Morbidelli, Petronas Yamaha SRT
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Last year’s championship runner-up, Morbidelli currently sits 11th in the standings after a tough season on his Yamaha.
Despite finishing 2020 as top Yamaha on its older ‘A-spec’ bike, Morbidelli was not given factory machinery for this season.
Now riding a two-year-old M1, Morbidelli has struggled for form - ending last weekend’s German GP second-to-last in 18th.
Morbidelli has previously spoken of his unhappiness at the situation, saying he had a frank discussion with Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis about it.
Despite his machinery woes, Morbidelli has still scored a podium in 2021, taking third at Jerez in May.
SRT has not said if it will replace Morbidelli for Assen, though it could open the door for Cal Crutchlow to return to MotoGP this weekend.
Crutchlow effectively retired from racing at the end of last season to become Yamaha’s test rider, but also acts as its reserve should any of the Japanese marque's riders get injured.
Related video
Previous article
2021 MotoGP Dutch GP – how to watch, session times & more
Next article
Japanese MotoGP round cancelled, COTA race comes in as replacement
Marc Marquez is back
MotoGP Starting Grid: Portugal Grand Prix
MotoGP Starting Grid: Doha Grand Prix
Marc Márquez's first ride after his injury
Marc Marquez continues his recovery
Why MotoGP will miss its gentle giant
Danilo Petrucci’s days in MotoGP appear numbered, as KTM looks to completely reshuffle the Tech3 team for 2022. Though the Italian's 2021 season so far hasn’t been standout, the giant Italian covertly became a top runner in MotoGP across the last decade and brought with him a personality that world sport sorely needs more of
Why Mir's MotoGP title defence can’t be written off yet
Joan Mir’s defence of his MotoGP title has had an underwhelming start as Suzuki didn’t progress its championship-winning GSX-RR as much as its rivals did with their bikes over the winter. Speaking to Autosport, Mir lays out why his title defence has been stalled so far and why he’s confident title number two is still within reach
The Rossi replacement who’s become the MotoGP leader Yamaha needed
It's been six years since Jorge Lorenzo gave Yamaha its last MotoGP title in 2015. Since his departure at the end of 2016, Yamaha's form has been inconsistent but it has at last found a new talisman to return it to the top spot in the form of a precociously talented Frenchman who currently leads the standings
Why the Vinales/Yamaha MotoGP divorce satisfies both parties
On Monday Yamaha announced it will part ways with Maverick Vinales at the end of the 2021 season - a move requested by the rider. As the already strained relationship between both parties in MotoGP hit rock bottom in recent weeks, this divorce - as ORIOL PUIGDEMONT writes - is good for both Yamaha and Vinales for a number of reasons
The unexpected Rossi/Ducati MotoGP sequel offering redemption
A decade after first linking up with Ducati in what turned out to be an ill-fated period in his MotoGP career, Valentino Rossi has joined forces with the Italian marque once more - this time as a team owner. And the VR46/Ducati tie-up beginning in 2022 has the potential to right the wrongs of Rossi and Ducati's nadir of 2011/2012
Why Yamaha is about to risk losing Valentino Rossi
With Valentino Rossi’s next career move imminent in MotoGP, it is set to have wide-reaching influences on a number of riders and teams on the grid. But one of the biggest impacts will be felt at Yamaha, with its pivotal role in the saga set to see it lose its appointment with ‘The Doctor’
How Marquez beat his Honda in his heroic MotoGP comeback win
Marc Marquez has been through hell and back in the 581 days between his win in the 2019 Valencia season finale and his heroic MotoGP comeback victory in Germany last Sunday. Despite battling physical limitations and a difficult 2021-spec Honda, the Sachsenring provided the perfect storm for the Spaniard to return to the top step
Why Quartararo’s Catalunya suit penalty highlights a wider issue in MotoGP
OPINION: Fabio Quartararo racing with his leather suit open and subsequent penalty has been the main talking point of the Catalunya MotoGP weekend, which has highlighted a wider issue with MotoGP’s stewarding that risks a negative precedent going forward
