VR46 director Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci admitted he was ‘emotional’ after 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Franco Morbidelli secured his first podium for the team in the Argentine MotoGP.

Although Morbidelli was the very first member of the VR46 Riders Academy back in 2014, he never raced for Valentino Rossi’s team - until being cho♛sen to replace Marco Bezzecchi this season.

Despite being a consistent top-six contender with Pramac last year, Morbidelli had not stepped onto the podiꦓum since 2021 and his signing by VR46 was widely questioned.

But Salucci said VR46 never lost faith.

“I’m very happy for Franky because the last seasons were not very good for him,” Salucci told TNT Sports. “When we🦂 decided to take Frankie we thought a bit and said yes because for us Morbidelli is a very good rider. Very good guy. We want to put Francoꦯ back on top.

“Today is a special day for me, our team, VR46, and for him. It was not an easy weekend, yesterday he was [sick] but anyway, he finished third and for me, it’s possible for him to 🧸make a very good season.

“Franco is like family here and I’m very happy. I’m a little bit emotional because I’ve b𝄹een dreaming of this day for the last six months.

“Franky has been with us in the VR46 Academy since 2014 but he never raced in our team. I remember in Moto2 he already had a contract with Marc VDS. In MotoGP, he already🍌 had a contract with Yamaha. Always some small problem!

“Fortunately last year he was free because the last three years were not very good. And I said ‘Vale, I want Morbidelli because I trust in him𒊎 and for sure Morbidelli comes back to the podium’. And it’♎s true!”

"People said said ‘Why? Morbidelli is finished’" 

Morbidelli had fired a warning shot by leಞading day two of the Sepang pre-season test, then kicked off the world championship with a strong fourth in the Thai Grand Prix.

But the Italian went one better in Termas, aided by a brave soft rear tyre choice, to also claim VR46𝕴’s first podium since Bezzecchi at Jerez last year.

“When we signed him a lot of people on Instagram said ‘Why? Morbide✤lli is ❀finished’,” Salucci said. 

“He demonstrated today that Morbidelli is not finished. He’s one of the be𒈔st riders in the world and it’s just the beginning because every session he gets better and better. Also with the team because he’s only been with us three months.

“I want to say thank you to Ducati because they gave us a fantastic bike, the GP24. Franco rode very well and the team also did a very good job because only Morbidelli and Diggia chose the soft tyre. I said, ‘Are you are s🍌ure?’. [They said] ‘We are sure’. And it’s true. So compliments to the team as well.”

Morbidelli is the only Ducati rider currently without a ღcontract for 2026 and the rostrum was also the perfect reply to rumours that Pedro Acosta might be in contention for his seat.

Team-mate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fabio di Giannantonio, still recovering from a pre-season shoulder injury, compl𝓰eted a strong day for VR46 iဣn fifth place.