Franco Morbidelli won’t ride his Prima Pramac Ducati before the 2024 MotoGP World Championship kicks off in March after doctors ruled him out of the two pre-season tests at Sepang and Qatar.
The Italian is recovering from injuries sustained in an accident at Portimao during a WorldSBK test, Morbidelli having been on track with a handful of other MotoGP riders riding stock-spec sportsbikes to gain ‘match fitness’ before the first test in Malaysia, which started today [6 February).
Having been knocked unconscious in the incident – it was later revealed – doctors had already delayed signing him off to test at Sepang, but the latest announcement also rules him out of the second test on 19/20 February in Qatar.
In an update from MotoGP.com, Morbidelli has been disallowed from participating in any sporting activities for three weeks, though it stresses that it is a precautionary measure.
It means Morbidelli will head into the opening round at the Lusail International Circuit having completed just a single day of track running aboard the Ducati GP24 he will ride in 2024, back in November at Valencia.
The three-time MotoGP race winner moves to Ducati after five years with Yamaha.
