Morbidelli hails “best race in MotoGP” after Valencia win
Petronas SRT’s Franco Morbidelli called his victory in the Valencia Grand Prix after a last-lap duel with Jack Miller his “best race in MotoGP”.
Morbidelli started Sunday’s race from pole and led for almost the entirety of the 27-lap contest, pulling a gap of over a second to the chasing pack at one stage as he comfortably lapped in the mid 1m31s.
But in the latter stages Pramac’s Miller began to reel in the Yamaha rider, and was right on his tail as they started the final lap.
The pair engaged in a thrilling battle for the lead, with Morbidelli getting the upper hand with a daring move at the Turn 5 right-hander – after which, he cannily defended the position and managed to lead Miller across the line by 0.093 seconds.
Tallying up his third win of the season, Morbidelli moves up to second in the standings ahead of the final round.
“Yeah, I think it was my best race in MotoGP so far.” Morbidelli said when asked by Motorsport.com if he considered it as such.
“[I had a] super-high rhythm and a super-nice battle at the end. So, yeah, definitely it was my best race in MotoGP so far.”
The SRT rider’s other two wins this season at Misano and Aragon came in different circumstances, with Morbidelli controlling the pace before easing away from the pack.
Morbidelli admits he knew he could be “tough in a fight”, but had only done so in Moto2 and lower down the order in MotoGP.
So, to come out on top in a last-lap battle for victory acted as “proof” he could do it at the highest level.
“I knew that I can be tough in a fight,” Morbidelli said when asked if he learned something more about himself as a rider in this race.
“I knew that. I just did it in Moto2 or MotoGP for not top positions.
“It was nice to have a fight and give myself proof also in MotoGP at the last lap against a great rider for the victory.
“So, it was good to do that and it was good to see I was able to come out of this in a good way.”
Related video
Quartararo: I’ve haven’t felt good on Yamaha since Le Mans
Mir: Title-winning Valencia MotoGP race was a “nightmare”
Garcia, Eckes land 2023 NASCAR Truck rides with MHR
McAnally Hilgemann Racing will field a pair of fulltime entries in the NASCAR Truck Series next season with drivers Christian Eckes and Jake Garcia.
IndyCar to run hybrid units with 2.2s, not 2.4s, in 2024
The next-gen IndyCar engine formula, set for introduction in 2024, will now couple hybrid units with 2.2-liter engines rather than increasing capacity to 2.4 liters.
Maserati unveils challenger for its debut Formula E campaign
The Maserati MSG squad has unveiled the livery of its Tipo Folgore car it will race for the first time in Formula E next season.
F1 world champion Villeneuve in frame for Vanwall WEC seat
Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve is in the running for a seat with the Vanwall Le Mans Hypercar squad in next year’s World Endurance Championship.
Luca Marini: Why he's more than just Valentino Rossi's brother
Surname pressure is something many have had to deal with in their motorsport careers. And while Luca Marini doesn’t have that, his familial relation and the team he rides for in MotoGP have cast a brighter spotlight on his progress. But, as he has shown in 2022 – and as he reveals to Motorsport.com – Marini is so much more than just the brother of a legend.
Ranking the top 10 MotoGP riders of 2022
The 2022 MotoGP season was another hotly contested championship, with Francesco Bagnaia emerging as the title winner after the campaign went to the wire. Motorsport.com picks out the 10 best performers of the season
Was the MotoGP 2022 title won by Bagnaia or lost by Quartararo?
Reigning MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo had a 91-point lead over rival Francesco Bagnaia after the German Grand Prix, a seemingly impregnable gap to overcome in the remaining 10 races. But as the Frenchman struggled for pace with his Yamaha, Bagnaia stormed back into contention and swept to Ducati's first riders' title since 2007
Why there's more to Honda's 2023 MotoGP bike than the Valencia test suggests
After a run on Honda's 2023 prototype MotoGP bike, six-time champion Marc Marquez made his pessimism clear with his initial reaction. But the Japanese marque has made leadership changes behind closed doors - and a more representative bike promised for the Malaysia test in February could placate Marquez.
Why new MotoGP champion Bagnaia has a stronger character than it seems
While new MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia might not be the loudest rider on the grid, his calm exterior belies a steely backbone. His part in turning around Ducati's fortunes at the start of the year, when displeased with a new engine concept, shows the strength of his character.
Why Bagnaia's MotoGP triumph is as worthy as Stoner's Ducati breakthrough
OPINION: Despite the superiority exhibited by the Ducati in 2022, the context in which Francesco Bagnaia became MotoGP world champion means that both the rider and the Italian marque merit the same recognition that the brand and Casey Stoner received after their 2007 title
Why the 2022 MotoGP season had a bittersweet ending
OPINION: MotoGP’s fifth last round showdown of the modern era delivered a tense finale despite the predictable outcome, as Francesco Bagnaia ended 15 years of pain for Ducati. But as emotions ran high for the Italian marque, a final victory for a departing Japanese rival tinged the campaign’s conclusion with sadness.
Why the 2023 MotoGP title battle has already begun
Since Ducati announced the arrival of Enea Bastianini to its factory team for 2023, the staging of the four-time race winner has strained the atmosphere within the Italian manufacturer, which has raised its guard in anticipation of what may happen between him and championship favourite Francesco Bagnaia.