Franco Morbidelli has taken a big step towards getting the green light to compete in the 2024 MotoGP World Championship opener in Qatar after being given the medical clearance to travel to Lusail.
The Italian is yet to turn a lap on the Prima Pramac Ducati GP24 this year after being knocked unconscious and sustaining injuries in an accident while riding a stock sportsbike during a private test session in Portimao in January.
Hospitalised overnight in the immediate aftermath, Morbidelli was subsequently ruled out of both official pre-season MotoGP tests in Malaysia and Qatar.
As such, three-time MotoGP race winner Morbidelli required official sign-off to make the trip to Qatar, which he has now received. He will still need to get the green light from MotoGP medical crews for the formal sign-off to compete but Morbidelli is expected to get that.
“I am very pleased to have received the medical clearance to start the season. I am eager to try the bike, to return to the dynamics of the races, and to get to know the people of my new team better.
“This year represents a significant change in my career, and although this incident was unfortunate, it is now in the past, and I want to look forward.
“I thank the doctors who have been monitoring me, the people who have supported me during these weeks, and a special thanks to Prima Pramac Racing for their support.”
Morbidelli, who makes his debut with Prima Pramac Ducati this weekend after his switch from Yamaha over the winter, hasn’t lapped on the GP24 since the one-day post-2023 season test in Valencia in November.
