Moto2: Morbidelli expecting a ‘different’ race at home

Franco Morbidelli says that this weekend’s Sam Marino Grand Prix will be a different type of race for him, as the Moto2 championship heads almost to his doorstop for the Misano Grand Prix. But despite being located only 20km from the VR46 Riders Academy base in Tavullia, he says that the extra atmosphere will make it more special.

“Now we head to Misano and it will be important to be fast there in front of my home crowd. There will be a lot of people there I know and we even have a special grandstand for this weekend, so I want to go there and win. A home race is always a different race, a race where you not only have to give a little bit more but it’s expected of you by the home crowd. I’ve been waiting for this weekend since January and I would love to make a great race at home in Misano.”

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But the pressure of a home race won’t be helped by the Brazilian-Italian being locked in a race for the Moto2 title with 2018 teammate Thomas Luthi and current teammate Alex Marquez, with only 29 points covering the leaders going into the weekend.

And after crashing out last time out at the British Grand Prix, the junior of the Marquez brothers says he’s out with a point to prove in Italy.

“Silverstone was a great weekend, right up until the point I crashed out of the lead, which definitely wasn’t in the plan! Now we head to Misano, where I’ve maybe struggled a bit more than normal in the past, but we go there this year in a different position entirely. I go to Italy completely motivated to fight once again at the front, as we did last time out at Silverstone. To win the championship is nearly impossible for me now, so I don’t have to worry about Franco Morbidelli or Tom Luthi, I just need to push to try and win as many of the remaining races as I can, starting this weekend in Misano.”

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