Franco Morbidelli names new crew chief for MotoGP 2022

Franco Morbidelli will not be reunited with Ramon Forcada at the Factory Yamaha MotoGP team next season.

Nor will he continue with Silvano Galbusera, the crew chief he is currently working with after an early move from Petronas Yamaha to the Factory team was made possible by Maverick Vinales' exit.

While Galbusera will return to the test team next year, Morbidelli will work with Patrick Primmer, who previously worked as Vinales' highly-rated Ohlins technician before being forced to stand-down due to Covid travel restrictions in his native Australia.

"Silvano is going to keep on doing his usual job which is being in charge of the testing team and testing project while I’m going to work with Patrick, who is already here [in Portimao]," Morbidelli said.

"He’s going to be with us this weekend, not working directly, but sitting in and checking out what we’re doing, getting contact with my feedback, and the programme of work that we started with Silvano in Misano."

Morbidelli, still recovering from major knee surgery in June, added that Primmer is, "somebody I will be really keen to work with."

Last year's title runner-up had worked with Forcada, who helped Jorge Lorenzo win three world championships with Yamaha, since joining Petronas in 2019.

Morbidelli initially expressed hope they could be reunited for 2022, but today's news indicates Forcada will remain at Petronas with Andrea Dovizioso.

Morbidelli scored his first points in Monster colours with 13th place last time at Misano.