Morbidelli crisis at VR46-Ducati: “Valentino is helping him as best he can”

Whilst Fabio di Giannantonio is battling for the world title in the 2026 MotoGP season, his VR46 team-mate Franco Morbidelli is experiencing the complete opposite. Following the Grand Prix weekend at Assen, the Italian lies in just 16th place in the World Championship and has collected only 43 points. By comparison, his team-mate Di Giannantonio already has 177 points and, in third place in the World Championship, is the top Ducati rider. Speaking to SPEEDWEEK.com, VR46 team manager Pablo Nieto spoke openly about his rider’s difficult situation.

“The situation isn’t easy,” Nieto admitted. “It’s true that ‘Diggia’ has taken a step forward, whilst Franco has remained roughly at last year’s level. At the same time, the overall standard of performance is higher this year. That’s why the gap between the two riders is now significantly wider.”

This season, Morbidelli is riding the 2025 model-year Ducati – the very bike that Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio di Giannantonio struggled with time and again last year. Nevertheless, Nieto is convinced that there is considerably more potential to be tapped.

Valentino Rossi mit Pablo Nieto

Foto: Gold & Goose

“We need to continue supporting Franco because we know that his potential is actually good enough for at least the top five,” emphasised the Spaniard. “Of course, we don’t like seeing him so far down the field. On the other hand, we’ve already seen what’s possible this season. He was on the front row of the grid and finished on the podium in the sprint. That shows he can fight for the podium when everything comes together on a given weekend.”

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Morbidelli’s mental state clearly affected

The team is particularly concerned about the Italian’s mental state. When asked how much the disappointing results are taking their toll on Morbidelli psychologically, Nieto replied without hesitation: “A great deal. Franco is a rider who relies heavily on self-confidence and the right feeling. He always wants to have everything under control. In a situation like this, that’s naturally very difficult.”

This makes the support of the whole team all the more important. “We must try to give him the best possible backing. Ultimately, motor racing is an individual sport. The rider is alone on the track. But we must do everything we can to ensure he can achieve the best possible results.”

The role played by Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi also plays a key role in this. Morbidelli has been part of the VR46 Academy for many years and has a close relationship with the nine-time world champion. Rossi is therefore also deeply involved in addressing his compatriot’s difficult situation.

“We talk about it a great deal with Valentino,” revealed Nieto. “Together, we’re trying to support Franky as best we can. Valentino is constantly asking how we can improve and what we can learn from past mistakes. He’s very much involved.”

The fact that Rossi is personally involved comes as no surprise to Nieto. “Franky has been part of the Academy for many years. We’ve known him for a very long time and we really don’t like seeing him where he is at the moment. We also know that he’s suffering greatly as a result of this situation.”

For Morbidelli, this sporting crisis has come at the worst possible time. His contract with VR46 expires at the end of the 2026 season; as things stand, the Italian will not remain with the team for 2027. This makes a turnaround in his racing form in the second half of the season all the more important if he is to put himself in a strong position for the future, whether in the MotoGP paddock or elsewhere.