Andrea Dosoli hoping to lure Franco Morbidelli to World SBK as Toprak Razgatlioglu replacement – ‘He could open a cycle’

Yamaha and their Road Racing Manager Andrea Dosoli are still hopeful of luring Franco Morbidelli to World Superbike from MotoGP.

One option could be Morbidelli, who was spotted in the garage at the recent Italian World Superbike Grand Prix at Imola and currently races for Yamaha in MotoGP.

However, with his contract up at the end of the season and results hit and miss in this campaign, it has been speculated that he would be allowed to leave.

That could mean that either Ducati or Honda turn their attention to Morbidelli, but Dosoli still wants to bring the Italian over to World Superbike.

“He and the manager have all the elements to make a decision. We just have to wait.

“Franco has been racing in GPs for 10 years. We know that for a first-time MotoGP rider it is difficult to fully assess the change of horizon.

“With us he could open a cycle, becoming a bit like the new Max Biaggi.”

The reference to Biaggi is a throwback to the 2007 World Superbike season when the Italian joined Suzuki. This came after losing his Honda seat in MotoGP in 2005 and sitting out the 2006 MotoGP season having not being able to find a new opportunity.

After joining Aprilia in 2009, he went on to win two world titles, in 2010 and 2012.

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