Sylvain Guintoli could not hide his disappointment with one MotoGP rider in the pre-qualifying practice session for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Friday evening.
The premier class is making its annual trip to Northamptonshire earlier in 2025 than in years past after the British GP moved forward in the MotoGP calendar from its August place. Marc Marquez also arrived at Silverstone with a 22-point lead over Alex Marquez in the standings.
Yet Silverstone has not staged a Marc Marquez win since the 2014 British GP, and Ducati did not have it all their own way in the timed practice session on Friday. Yamaha gave the Borgo Panigale brand a run for their money as three of their bikes secured places straight into Q1.
Franco Morbidelli disappoints Sylvain Guintoli by impeding Marco Bezzecchi at Silverstone
A Ducati rider still topped the practice timesheet, though, as Alex Marquez beat Yamaha star Fabio Quartararo at the end of the hour at Silverstone. But it was not a flawless Friday for all Ducati riders, as Franco Morbidelli frustrated Sylvain Guintoli by impeding Marco Bezzecchi.
Morbidelli was dawdling on the outside of the circuit through Maggotts and Becketts as the VR46 rider had not realised that Bezzecchi was approaching at high speed. So, as the Italian approached the apex at Becketts, he was in his compatriot’s way as the Aprilia ace turned in.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Franco Morbidelli from net worth to career stats
Replays of the incident also revealed that Morbidelli only looked over his left-hand shoulder to see if another rider was close as he got near the apex for Becketts. Bezzecchi had to take avoiding action, too, and Guintoli could not hide his disappointment at Morbidelli’s actions.
Guintoli said on TNT Sports 2 (23/05, 16:39): “Oh man, oh Franky. You can’t keep doing this, that’s what I’m thinking. It’s dangerous for yourselves, as well as the other guys.
“And he got a penalty in Buriram and he’s got to make sure. It can happen at times and we’ve all done it, but you’ve really got to be careful.”
Franco Morbidelli is failing to live up to his promise to Francesco Bagnaia to stop impeding rival riders
This Friday at the British GP is not the first time that Guintoli has criticised Morbidelli about impeding a rival rider in the 2025 MotoGP season. The VR46 ace received a three-place grid penalty as Morbidelli impeded Francesco Bagnaia in practice for the Thai Grand Prix, as well.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Valentino Rossi’s VR46 from current riders to bike
The incident in Buriram enraged Guintoli, who branded it ‘unacceptable’, as Morbidelli was dawdling on the racing line into Turn 5 and forced Bagnaia to abandon a lap he required to try to seal a Q2 spot. Michael Laverty even branded the incident in Thailand as ‘really bad’.
Morbidelli told Bagnaia he would ‘improve’ after impeding the Ducati rider in Thailand, too. Yet his incident at Silverstone that disappointed Guintoli shows the VR46 star still has some room for improvement when the two-time MotoGP polesitter is not attacking on the track.
