Franco Morbidelli faces a setback for his final home MotoGP at Misano after being given a long lap penalty for Sunday's race. The VR46 Ducati rider was penalized for riding slowly on the racing line and disturbing another rider, Enea Bastianini, at Turn 13 during Friday afternoon's practice session.
An FIM MotoGP Stewards penalty notice stated that the action was deemed MGP-SR3: Dangerous slow riding during any session. Taking into account the rider's multiple offences during the season, the appropriate penalty is a Long Lap Penalty. The penalty applies only to Sunday's Grand Prix and not the Sprint race.
Morbidelli, who will lose his VR46 Ducati seat to Nicolo Bulega for 2027 and is set to swap places with the WorldSBK title leader by joining Aruba.it Ducati, had shown promising pace in practice. He secured direct access to Qualifying 2, finishing fifth. Speaking before the penalty was announced, Morbidelli said: "My sensations on the bike are similar to usual. Here it's the home track, so I know very well Misano, so I try to give even more. I couldn't make the first time attack, couldn't stay on track, but then in the second one, I managed to stay on track and did a 31.4. I don't have a lot of confidence, but sometimes I'm quick even though I don't have confidence, so that's positive, I'll take it."
His team-mate Fabio di Giannantonio, riding the factory-spec GP26, was once place ahead of Morbidelli on the timesheets. The penalty will be a significant blow for Morbidelli, who is aiming to end his tenure with VR46 on a high note. The long lap penalty typically adds around 2-3 seconds to a rider's race time, which could ruin his chances of a strong finish at the tight and twisty Misano circuit.
The stewards' decision to consider multiple offences sends a clear message that Morbidelli must be more disciplined, especially in practice sessions. For VR46 Ducati, this situation is a test of their ability to keep the rider focused. Meanwhile, Bastianini, the victim of the incident, has not commented further. He is currently fighting to prove himself at KTM Tech3 after leaving Ducati.
The MotoGP Misano 2026 race will be a test for Morbidelli. Despite the penalty, he still has the speed. If he can maximize qualifying and minimize the damage, a respectable finish is possible. However, with pressure from rivals and a challenging circuit, Morbidelli's task is far from easy.
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