Wilco Zeelenberg On The Lack Of Performance By Franco morbidelli on the Yamaha
Categories: MotoGP
Fabio Quartararo’s teammate Franco Morbidelli is not getting anywhere. The Italian, MotoGP runner-up in 2020 on Yamaha, has only scored 26 points this year. Here’s why he is trailing his teammate this much.
After 13 0f 20 races World Champion Fabio Quartararo is leading the championship. With 32 points on Aleix Espargaro and 44 on Francesco Bagnaia, the Frenchman is comfortably in the lead.
But, although Quartararo is fighting the dominating Ducatis for the podium every race his teammate Franco Morbidelli has not been able to match his performance.
Wilco Zeelenberg, Morbidelli’s and Quartararo’s team manager in the Petronas Team in 2019 and 2020 might have found the reason not only Morbidelli, but all Yamaha riders are trailing Quartararo by miles.
Wilko Zeelenberg – Image provided by Motorsport Images
“Fabio generates more cornering speed, but does not overheat his tires. He rides with less lean angle. He avoids the problems that the other riders have”, explains the Dutchman.
As for Morbidelli, Zeelenberg thinks the Italian’s riding style does not fit the factory Yamaha. Although being fit after a long lasting knee injury he still has problems with the bike.
Drastic measures as the mane had to go for Franco Morbidelli – Image provided by Motorsport Images
According to Zeelenberg, this has mostly to do with the braking style of the Yamaha riders. “All other Yamaha riders brake hard and wide into the bend.”
“Fabio brakes straight, releases the brake and then turns into the bend. He does this in every curve and thus always manages to be one or two km/h faster.”
Morbidelli is lucky he has a contract signed until the end of 2023 as he is running out of arguments. Nevertheless, the Italian does not give up.
He insists on adapting his riding style to the bike. However, the team must also approach him to make racing easier for him.
