Franco Morbidelli on Toprak Razgatlioglu threatening his MotoGP seat with Yamaha: “I like the pressure”
WorldSBK rider Razgatlioglu’s test on Yamaha’s M1 last week in Jerez was 🥂a major ꦯopportunity for him to impress ahead of a switch of championships.
But it also arrived at a time where Morbidelli, the current incumbentꦑ alongside Fabio Quartararo, is impressing.
“Toprak is a Yamaha rider, he has done and is doing some incredible things in Superbike,” Morbidelli said during the MotoGP Grand Prix o⛄f the Americas weekend.
“If we look at the tওop five riders in that world championship, they all deserve a chance in MotoGP.
“Yamaha made a nice gesture towards him, I knew about the test because, 🗹from Iwata, they are always very fair towards the riders.
“Does this Toprak test put pressure on me? I like the p♊ressure."
Morbidelli entered 2023 under serious pressure to retain his seat, with꧂ his current contract due to expire at the end of this season.
Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin was initially tou🌠ted as a target for Yaౠmaha.
They have also held longstanding interest in Razgatlioglu, the Yamaha Motor Europe Roadꦬ Racing rid♛er.
Morbidelli finished fourth in Argen💦tina, the most significant reminder of his talent in some time.
After two rounds, he led his teammate, the 2021 champion Quartararo, ওin the MotoGP s꧅tandings.
Morbidelli’s form - as well as the rise of Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini, alongside Franc☂esco Bagnaia - has been part of the VR46 Academy’s overall potential being realised so far in 2023.
But even Valentino Rossi haಌs warn🌟ed Morbidelli: “We are delighted because at Termas we saw Franco again, which we need to know.
“It's a very impor🐻tant moment for him, because in these races he has to try to be competitive to earn his place even in 🐼the next few years.
“In the meantime, having a race like this is very important for morale, because he has first of all demonstrated to himsel✃f that he is there, that he can stand there in front.
“But A🎉rgentina is a particular track, I would wait for the next ones to see, hoping that it will be competitꦓive, that it will be able to be at the level of Quartararo also in the next races.”
M🦄orbidelli is the No1 choice to remain as a Yamaha MotoGP rider in 2024 but only if he can sustain the good form he has shown in the first three rounds, managin🌜g director Lin Jarvis confirmed.
Jaꦏmes was a sports journalist a🅺t Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
