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Franco Morbidelli (Crash): «A big mistake» / MotoGP

Pramac Ducati rider Franco Morbidelli retired early from the MotoGP main race on Sunday after his podium return in the Misano sprint on Saturday.

Even though Franco Morbidelli didn't see the finish line in Misano Adriatico on Sunday, one thing is for sure: Franky is back! The Italian also put on a firework display in Sunday's race and, after setting the fastest lap in the early stages, even caught up with the leading duo Bagnaia and Martin before slipping out of the race on lap 7.

When it rained in some sections of the “Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli”, the veteran from the Pramac Ducati team simply put too much strain on his front tyre. “I'm OK – but it's a shame that I made the mistake,” grumbled Franky and explained: “I didn't want to be cautious when it started to drizzle. But it was clearly a big mistake on my part!”

Morbidelli, who crashed just before his teammate Jorge Martin changed bikes, explained: “It's been a long time since I won a race. I clearly felt the potential this time that I might be able to do it. I just wanted to take the risk, but it wasn't worth it. Only God knows how these races turn out. Who could have known all this?”

On the tactical question of whether to change bikes, Morbidelli said: “I didn't think about it, I just hoped that the rain would stop completely. I wanted to make the difference at that exact moment. But I put too much pressure on myself.”

Changing the motorcycle and then continuing to ride was not an option for the former Moto2 world champion after his return to the pits: “I turned off the engine and was already thinking about the next Misano race.”

Results MotoGP race Misano (8 September):

1. Marc Márquez (E), Ducati, 27 laps in 41:52.083 min
2. Francesco Bagnaia (I), Ducati, +3.102 sec
3. Enea Bastianini (I), Ducati, +5,428
4. Brad Binder (ZA), KTM, +14,185
5. Marco Bezzecchi (I), Ducati, +16,725
6. Alex Márquez (E), Ducati, +17.582
7. Fabio Quartararo (F), Yamaha, +17,642
8. Jack Miller (AUS), KTM, +19.327
9. Fabio Di Giannantonio (I), Ducati, +27,946
10. Pol Espargaró (E), KTM, +38,781
11. Miguel Oliveira (P), Aprilia, +46,386
12. Johann Zarco (F), Honda, +1:02.637
13. Takaaki Nakagami (J), Honda, +1:10.717
14. Stefan Bradl (D), Honda, +1:17.547
15. Jorge Martín (E), Ducati, one lap back
16. Maverick Viñales (E), Aprilia, one lap back
17. Pedro Acosta (E), KTM, one lap back
18. Raúl Fernández (E), Aprilia, + one lap back
19. Alex Rins (E), Yamaha, + one lap behind
– Aleix Espargaró (E), Aprilia, 13 laps back
– Augusto Fernández (E), KTM, 21 laps behind
– Franco Morbidelli (I), Ducati, 21 laps behind

World Championship standings after 26 of 42 races:

1. Martin, 312 points. 2. Bagnaia 305. 3. Marc Márquez 259. 4. Bastianini 250. 5. Binder 161. 6. Acosta 152. 7. Viñales 139.. 8. Di Giannantonio 119. 9. Aleix Espargaró 119. 10. Alex Márquez 114. 11 cchi 93. 1 2. Morbidelli 90. 13. Oliveira 65. 14. Quartararo 61. 15. Miller 58. 16. R. Fernández 46. 17. Nakagami 21. 18. Zarco 17. 19. A. Fernández 20. 20. Rins 15. 21. Mir 15. 22. Pol Espargaró 12. 23. Pedrosa 7. 23. 24. Bradl 2. Marini 1. 25. 26. Gardner 0. 27. Lorenzo Savadori 0.

Constructors’ World Championship:

1. Ducati, 463 points. 2. KTM 234. 3. Aprilia 224. 4. Yamaha 72. Honda 37.

Team World Championship:

1. Ducati Lenovo Team, 555 points. 2. Prima Pramac Racing 402. 3. Gresini Racing 373. 4. Aprilia Racing 258. 5. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 219. 6. Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team 212. 7. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 172. 8. Trackhouse Racing 111 9. Monster Energy Yamaha 74. 10. LCR Honda 42. 11. Repsol Honda Team 16.

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