Moto2: Champion Morbidelli hunting records in final race

New Moto2 world champion Franco Morbidelli is going into this weekend’s final round of the 2017 season with a clear goal in mind even though the championship is in the bag – to take Marc Marquez’s record for most Moto2 wins in a season off the Spaniard.

Winning the championship last time out before even turning a wheel in anger when rival and 2018 MotoGP teammate Thomas Luthi fractured an ankle in warm-up, the Brazilian-Italian says that the record is now the goal at Valencia – even if it might not be easy to achieve!

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“The championship is done, the pressure is gone but I still want to win in Valencia and this is what we will be working towards this weekend. Equalling Marc’s record for the most race wins in a single season is not a goal we’re focussed on, but it would be nice to finish my last Moto2 race before stepping up to MotoGP on the top step of the podium. Of course, it won’t be easy, as we’ve seen how strong the KTM riders have been the last few races, but we will give it our best shot!”

And with teammate Alex Marquez a safe fourth in the championship race with a round left, team boss Michael Bartholemy says it means that they can let their hair down a little at this weekend’s race.

“The pressure is off for both riders as we head into the final race of the 2017 season in Valencia. Franco was crowned as Moto2 World Champion in Malaysia and Álex’s fourth place in the championship cannot be challenged by the rider in fifth place. It means Franco and Álex are free to ride their own race this weekend and, as both are not only keen to end the season with a win but also quite capable of doing so, I suspect we’ll see them battling together at the front, which would be a fitting end to such a successful season for the team.” 

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