VR46 Ducati Team Manager Pablo Nieto has defended Franco Morbidelli following multiple errors made by the Italian in the 2025 MotoGP season.
Morbidelli found himself in front of the FIM stewards more than any other rider, and has faced extensive criticism for moves perceived as dangerous by rivals, fans and commentators.
The Italian was involved in several high-profile incidents throughout 2025, including a bizarre moment at the season finale that saw him crash into Honda’s Aleix Espargaro before the race start.
However, Morbidelli himself insisted that he “had his time” after multiple discussions with chief steward Simon Crafar.
“We all know I’m a fierce rider; I attack whenever I can,” Morbidelli said about the criticism. “Sometimes I make mistakes, but I’m never malicious.”
“This year, I had my time in the office with Simon. He spoke a lot to me.
“He made me understand how an overtaking should be brought to a rider, and how an overtaking should be brought in such a MotoGP.”
Despite the backlash, VR46 Team Manager Nieto has echoed his support for his rider, suggesting “it’s difficult” to find a balance while racing in MotoGP.
Nieto believes the risks Morbidelli took in races were sometimes justifiable as the Italian had more pace than the riders ahead of him.
“Sometimes things happen, like in [Portimao] where there was no penalty, but we talked with Race Direction,” Nieto told Crash.net.
“Sometimes I understand Franky. Because what happens if you do not a very good qualifying, start in the back, but are a little bit faster?
“Sometimes you have to take risks in the first laps.
“And I understand that sometimes things happen, you can make more mistakes, in [a situation] like that. So it’s difficult.”
Pablo Nieto highlights ‘all the problems’ causing Franco Morbidelli drama in MotoGP
Nieto also revealed that one of the biggest contributors to Morbidelli’s struggles in 2025 was his qualifying.
Despite riding a GP24 machine, Morbidelli’s average grid position was around seventh, with his worst qualifying position in 17th.
“The thing that we have to do is work on qualifying to try to start a little bit more in front. Like this, we can take out all the problems of when you are [fighting] in the back.
Nieto also revealed he likes the current qualifying format, but admitted it seems as if half of the weekend is determined on Friday.
“I like [the qualifying format] how it is,” he said. “It’s very nice because on Friday, you have already ‘qualifying’.
“I think let’s say 50% of the weekend is on Friday. Because if you are already in Q2, that means that maybe you can fight for something [good].
“If you are out of Q2… if you make one mistake, there’s a yellow flag or something like that, you are out.
“And when you are out from Q2, it’s going to be difficult to make a good race. So Friday is already a very, very important day.”
Despite his perceived difficulties in qualifying, Morbidelli still achieved two podiums in the 2025 season after strong races in Argentina and Qatar.
VR46 will unveil its 2026 challenger on Wednesday, with the 30-year-old hoping to improve on a seventh-placed finish in last season’s standings.
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