MotoGP - Morbidelli: "Other brands have been interested in me"

The 2020 MotoGP world runner-up has a contract with the Petronas SRT team until the end of 2022, but the team has not yet confirmed its specific plans beyond this season.

The Malaysian team has not yet secured its continuity with Yamaha from 2022 and Valentino Rossi’s VR46 has also shown interest in the M1, although everything indicates that they will finally go with Ducati .

After a difficult start to 2021, Morbidelli did not hide his dissatisfaction with Yamaha due to its technical situation, being the only rider who does not ride the latest version of the M1, despite finishing 2020 as the best rider of the brand, with three wins.

Regardless, Morbidelli expects his relationship with SRT and Yamaha to continue beyond 2021, but is aware of the interest in him from outside his current environment.

“I like Yamaha and I would like to continue with them,” says Morbidelli . “If they support me with an updated bike, my love for Yamaha will be even greater.”

“It’s still not clear at all because we have to wait a little longer to confirm some things, like the relationship between Yamaha and the team.

“It’s important for me. First of all I need to know if Yamaha is going to continue with my team. It’s a big impediment for me at the moment to ask Yamaha questions.”

“I haven’t personally spoken to anyone outside of my team, but I am aware of the interest in me from other factories.”

Morbidelli says he will have an official motorcycle in 2022

In any case, in the contract of the 2017 Moto2 champion with his current formation there is a clause that establishes that he will have factory material next year.

“I have a contract with the Petronas team for 2022, where it says that I will have an official motorcycle. It is not known what motorcycle it will be, but it will be an official one. For me, the most important thing is to respect my contract and continue with them, because I feel good The other options will have to be weighed separately, they are decisions that depend on those responsible, I will have to focus more on driving”, he indicates.

Morbidelli said after his podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix that he had a conversation with Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis about his current technical situation.

The manager previously explained that Morbidelli deserved an official bike, but the decision was made before the end of the season and it was not possible to change it because “there was no money or time”.

Morbidelli is eighth in the championship, 47 points behind leader Fabio Quartararo on the factory Yamaha, after crashing at the French GP last week and finishing 16th after restarting.