Franco Morbidelli came agonizingly close to securing a podium finish at Silverstone, falling short by just 17 milliseconds in a thrilling race against Marc Márquez. The race tested Morbidelli’s resilience after he faced an early penalty and a challenging start but demonstrated remarkable determination throughout.
Overcoming Obstacles to Challenge for the Podium
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing rider reflected on the weekend, highlighting how despite a difficult start from thirteenth place due to a penalty and an earlier accident, he steadily fought back to contend for the top positions.
“Seventeen milliseconds. It was an amazing race. An incredible weekend. Everything happened, but we kept on working, kept on trying to adjust, kept on believing. After the start, the accident, the penalty starting from thirteenth, it’s just incredible to have the chance to fight for the podium and miss it by so little,”
Morbidelli said.
Although he accepted the narrow defeat with a tinge of disappointment, he expressed pride in the effort and the overall outcome:
“Okay, it’s a bit bitter, but this weekend for us looked like a life story. And finally, and luckily, there was a happy ending, so we’re all happy.”
Last-Lap Battle and Respect for Márquez
In the tense final lap, Morbidelli gave his all but acknowledged Márquez’s superiority in their head-to-head fight.
“I tried everything. I felt I could have done something better, but he was better than me in that last lap. He beat me in a place where I’m usually strong — head-to-head racing. It’s a bit bitter, but good on him,”
he admitted.
Showing sportsmanship, Morbidelli praised the reigning world champion‘s performance:
“Any time — world champion — I take it. He did a good job.”
Significance of the Race and Future Prospects
Morbidelli’s near podium at Silverstone after such adversity highlights his persistent drive and capability to compete at the highest level. This close result, marked by the slimmest of margins, is likely to fuel his confidence as he prepares for upcoming races, showing he remains a serious contender in the championship battle.
