Franco Morbidelli rued that he was “really sorry” to lose out on a first MotoGP podium in nearly two years, having lost the spot in the latter stages of the Argentina Grand Prix.
The factory Yamaha racer enjoyed his most competitive event in some time at the Termas de Rio Hondo having been a regular fixture within the top five all weekend, the Italian having qualified fourth before then securing the same position in Saturday afternoon’s sprint race – all the while outpacing team-mate Fabio Quartararo.
Morbidelli was then the only rider to keep up with the leading Ducati contingent in the wet Argentina GP in fourth, which then became third after reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia crashed out eight laps from home.
He held the spot until an agonising two tours from the end after a charging Johann Zarco moved clear on his Ducati, limiting Morbidelli to fourth – the 2020 MotoGP vice-champion admitting he was “very sorry” to have lost out on a rostrum result so late on having “smelled it” in both the sprint and GP contests.
“I was really sorry to see that Johann (Zarco) was catching up, I gave everything to keep the podium spot but I couldn’t,” explained Morbidelli.
“It was a pity because I smelled it yesterday and also today, but couldn’t get it, but in any case it’s a great weekend for me and we have to take it and build up from it.”
Despite being crestfallen having lost out on a first podium finish since the 2021 Spanish GP, Morbidelli was still left “very happy” to have featured towards the front of the field across the entirety of the weekend having struggled for form since joining Yamaha’s factory squad towards the end of the 2021 term.
“I’m very happy, we had different conditions and situations (across weekend) and we were able to perform well on all occasions, so we will take that,” continued the 2017 Moto2 world champion.
“We know we have to work on some areas, but the team is on it and really wanting to recover the ground, so I’m happy overall.
“We need to see what happens in Austin, the feeling I had this weekend was good so hopefully I can have it there too.”
