After his third-place finish at Phillip Island, Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) is 29 points ahead of rival Tom Lüthi (CarXpert Interwetten) and has an opportunity to become the first Italian rider to win a Moto2™ title, and the first to take the crown in the intermediate category since Marco Simoncelli back in 2008. It would also be the 23rd title in the intermediate class for an Italian rider.
“I will try to face this weekend as I usually do,” says Morbidelli. “I know it’s going to be hard and it won’t be a usual GP but I’ll try to stay calm, do my job and set up the bike to be as fast as possible. I really like Sepang, especially with the new surfaces with less bumps. It’s really nice to ride around here.”
We all know how calm and cool @FrankyMorbido12 is, but what has been his toughest moment of the year? #MotoGPFanQ pic.twitter.com/TgFx6K8qB9
— MotoGP™???????????? (@MotoGP) 26 octobre 2017
The Italian was also asked in the Press Conference about what he’s learned being part of the VR46 Riders Academy, and had a simple answer: “It’s a long list. Everything I know, I learned from him.”
So here are the scenarios Morbidelli needs to become the first Champion in the paddock to come from the academy:
- If Morbidelli wins, he will be World Champion irrespective of where Tom Lüthi finishes.
- If Morbidelli finishes second or third, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not win the race.
- If Morbidelli finishes fourth, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish either first or second.
- If Morbidelli finishes fifth, sixth or seventh, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish on the podium.
- If Morbidelli finishes eighth or ninth, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish better than fifth.
- If Morbidelli finishes tenth, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish better than sixth.
- If Morbidelli finishes eleventh, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish better than seventh.
- If Morbidelli finishes twelfth, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish better than eighth.
- If Morbidelli finishes thirteenth, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish better than ninth.
- If Morbidelli finishes fourteenth, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish better than tenth.
- If Morbidelli finishes fifteenth, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish better than eleventh.
- If Morbidelli fails to score points, he will be Champion if Lüthi does not finish better than twelfth.