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Franco Morbidelli Opens Up About His Training Crash and Recovery

Franco Morbidelli, a rider for Pramac Racing, has shared details about his harrowing experience following a serious training accident just before the 2024 MotoGP season began in January. The incident occurred while he was training on a Ducati V4 Panigale in Portimao, where a crash at Turn 7 left him unconscious.

Following the crash, Morbidelli was rushed to a hospital, where medical evaluations revealed a clot in his head. He recounted that the event left him with significant memory loss, impacting his recollection of both the moments leading up to and immediately following the accident. In a recent interview with Italian publication La Repubblica, the 29-year-old disclosed the disturbingly profound effect of the crash on his cognition, stating, “I lost my memory. For two weeks. I didn’t recognise people who were very close to me, important members of my family.” He described the experience as surreal and alarming but gradually noticed improvements in his memory and mental clarity over time.

With his recovery being closely monitored, Morbidelli was advised by healthcare professionals to sit out the season’s two pre-season tests in Malaysia and Qatar. This foray into a new competitive chapter—transitioning from Yamaha to Ducati—presented additional challenges, as he approached the season opener in Losail without any experience on the GP24 prototype.

Despite these obstacles, Morbidelli expressed gratitude for the support he received during his recuperation. On the eve of his Ducati debut in Qatar, he described his condition prior to the race, saying, “Two weeks before this meeting, I was still a little ‘gaga’.” He acknowledged the difficulties of returning to racing after a prolonged hiatus, stating, “Getting back on the bike was a very tough challenge: in short, I hadn’t done it for three months, since the last race of 2023, in Valencia.” The psychological and physical hurdles posed by recovery converged, complicating his preparations.

Reflecting on his struggles with Yamaha over the previous three seasons, Morbidelli recognized this new opportunity with Pramac and factory Ducati as a potential fresh start. However, the lack of preparation time left him in a precarious position as the season began.

It wasn’t until the fifth round of the season that Morbidelli managed to secure a spot in the top 10 of a grand prix, but recent performances, including a front-row qualifying position at the San Marino GP, showed signs of improvement. Still, criticism lingered, notably from Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, who questioned Morbidelli’s ongoing presence in MotoGP amidst speculation about the need for fresh talent in the sport.

Morbidelli acknowledged the mental toll of his accident, revealing how the incident momentarily shattered his resolve. “After two difficult years with Yamaha, you take a blow like that and you tell yourself that it’s the final blow. But I gritted my teeth,” he commented. He expressed his appreciation for the support system around him, including family and friends, saying, “I can truly say that I have seen it all, but each time you learn that you have to be strong enough to handle adversity.” His journey through these challenges has reinforced his sense of gratitude for those who stood by him during difficult times.

Additional reporting by Lena Buffa

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