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JAKARTA – Monster Energy Yamaha racer, Franco Morbidelli, may not have achieved optimal results in the main MotoGP Austria 2023 race last weekend. However, he maintained that he was pleased to see an improvement in the performance of his bike.
Known as Franky, Morbidelli started the race from 15th position at the Red Bull Ring Circuit. Even so, he managed to beat several competitors and enter the top 10, close to his teammate, Fabio Quartararo.
Unfortunately, Morbidelli was unable to defend his position, so he was forced to fall back. In the end, he finished the race in 11th place with less than 21 seconds of the winner, Francesco Bagnaia.
The 28-year-old racer admitted that the race was not easy. Even so, he felt he had enough speed to compete, but the constraints of starting position from the back row made it difficult for him to pursue opportunities in the front row.
“This race was really challenging. I had to fight for several positions. But I felt strong and my pace was good enough. Unfortunately, I started from the back row which left me behind at the start. We have to improve,” said Morbidelli as quoted from Speedweek on Tuesday ( 22/8/2023).
Nonetheless, Morbidelli is still happy with the results he has obtained from the 2023 Austrian MotoGP. He feels that there has been an increase in the performance of the 2023 M1 motorbike he is using.
“I am satisfied with the race conditions and the feelings I experienced. I was able to compete effectively throughout the race and managed to overtake the competitors in front. Unfortunately, I was in the back row,” explained the racer from VR46 Academy.
“However, I still feel happy and managed to make a little progress in several aspects. It is very satisfying for me!” he added.
Previously, in the 2023 Austrian MotoGP sprint, Morbidelli had shown impressive speed. He managed to finish ninth, a rare success this season.
These results keep Morbidelli still in 12th place in the 2023 MotoGP standings with 65 points. Just eight points short of Quartararo, who is just above him having finished eighth at the Red Bull Ring.
(sto)