Thailand GP – Franco Morbidelli penalized for Pecco Bagnaia's test failure

The season is not starting in the best possible way for Franco Morbidelli. Having arrived at VR46 after a season at Pramac with Jorge Martin, the Italian nevertheless managed to secure direct qualification in Q2 by entering the top 10 of the Test session this Friday (5th). The former teammate of fabio quartararo at Yamaha was well ahead of his teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio (15th), even though the latter has the GP-25, the latest version of Ducati's Desmosedici, while Morbidelli rides the GP-24, like the Gresini riders, including Alex Marquez, the fastest man in the session.

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Despite his fine fifth place, the highlight of Franco Morbidelli's session was the aborted lap at the very end of the session. The Roman stopped his attempt, but remained slow on the trajectory. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), who arrived at full speed behind him, was forced to stop his lap, narrowly avoiding him (see the video below). The double world champion raised his arm in frustration at his friend, who like him came from the VR46 academy in Valentino Rossi, but the damage was done.

Morbidelli already penalized in Thailand

With no time left to do another lap, the official Ducati rider had to settle for 13th and will have to go through Q1 on Saturday. There he will meet Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati), Brad Binder (KTM), Maverick Viñales (Tech3 KTM) and his former teammate Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM).

For his part, Franco Morbidelli was penalized with a three-place grid penalty on Sunday's Grand Prix. Not the best way to start his adventure in fluorescent yellow...

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???? @FrankyMorbido12 has been hit by a 3-place grid penalty for Sunday's Grand Prix after riding slow on line and disturbing @PeccoBagnaia in Practice ⚠️#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/mZsqJLVou2

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 28, 2025

Thai GP

Video of Morbidelli's embarrassment on Bagnaia in Tests

FRANCESCO BAGNAIA embarrassed by MORBIDELLI AND OUT OF THE TOP 10 🤯

The Italian will have to go through Q1 tomorrow, it didn't happen to him last year 😬#ThaiGP | #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/Zv2iKCpPAw

- CANAL + MotoGP ™ (@CanalplusMotoGP) February 28, 2025