‘Step-by-step’ Morbidelli pitches for maiden win on home soil

Franco Morbidelli says he hopes competing in his home San Marino MotoGP will provide him the ‘extra effort’ he needs to break his MotoGP victory duck after qualifying on the front row at Misano. 

The Italian played his part in securing Yamaha it’s landmark 1-2-3-4 result with a run to second on the grid, matching his erstwhile career-best starting spot he matched at Brno three rounds earlier.

Coming after the dramatic Austrian MotoGP accident that made headlines around the world, Morbidelli says he is particularly pleased to see dividends from a methodical working practice on the Petronas SRT Yamaha.

“It’s a great feeling to be on the front row and it is an added value to have it in your home grand prix. Three weeks ago I was in a completely different situation, but I’m happy how we started this weekend and how we are working. 

“We went riding round step-by-step compared to these two guys [Vinales, Quartararo] and finally we arrived in qualifying that much closer than we were in FP1, and this is positive. I hope we can make some more improvements tomorrow but so far the weekend is going well.

Confirming he is making use of Yamaha’s new hole-shot device off the line, Morbidelli hopes the home boost will serve him well on Sunday.

“I feel strong this year, one more year with the team and more experience with the bike, I feel good, I feel strong, as strong as I was feeling in Brno and Jerez. Of course it is my home grand prix and I will try to make that extra effort and see tomorrow.”