Franco Morbidelli is set to make history for the VR46 Riders Academy once, and pe♛rhaps 🍷twice, in the near future.

The Italian is now certain to become the first Academy rider to reach MotoGP, having signed to step-up to the premier-class with Marc VꦑDS.

And Morbidelli also looks on course to become the A♈cademy's first world champio🎀n, holding a commanding 34-point lead over nearest rival Thomas Luthi at the halfway stage of the season.

So how does friend and🌜 mentor Valentino Rossi feel about raci꧙ng with Morbidelli in MotoGP next year?

"I've known Franꦗco for a long time now. I think that he was one of the first riders in the Riders Academy," Rossi said. "His mother is from Brazil, his father is from Rome. But his father was a former rider and moved to Tavullia, because he wanted to put Franco in a good position to make him a rider.

"Franco's father went to Graziano, and said, 'is it possible to help Franco?' So the first time I saw Franco was wܫith my father, a long time ago, and he started to train with me and wit♔h Marco Simoncelli on the 450. From that moment we became friends.

"I think he has a great potential. He has a great ta🔯lent and he can do very well. This year he demonstrated that a lot. When we train together, he's a big problem, always. So I think he will be a big problem for everybody in MotoGP!"