New factory Monster Energy Yamaha rider Fraཧnco Morbidelli finished less than a second off Maverick Vꦚinales on his MotoGP return.

In what was a mostly dry FP1 session, Morbidelli was able to churn out several decent laps to put himself as high ☂as P12. 

The Italian eventually finished the sesಌsion in 16th, before claiming 13thꦜ in a completely wet FP2. 

Today was the first time on 2021 machinery for last season’s championship runner-up, however, it was too short a time period to understand key differences between that and the 2019 bike, as Morbiওdelli was instead focused on getting comfortable following his ♍five-race absence.  

"Yeah, 🏅I would like to say something about the difference between the two bikes, but the truth is I couldn’t f💖eel anything today," added Morbidelli. 

"Just jumping on t𓂃he bike after so much time (away) basically feels like a spaceship.&🌳nbsp;

"So, I cannot give any feedback or anything about the difference between the two 🔴bikes because it was so much ti🐠me between them."

Morbidelli’ return to action was also his first day in&nbs💫p;Monster Energy colours - ‘a day I will remember forever’. 

Speaking after his first day with the factory team and also the condition of his knee, the Italian added: "Today was a day I will remember forever. It’s pretty nice to have this kind of surrounding and it was really nice to have this FP1 and FP2 in Misano with♒ the🐭se colours. 

"I will for sure remember it forever.🌼 Moreove♉r, the day went quite okay; the knee I struggled more with this morning than this afternoon. 

"For sure, in wet conditions the sensations are much less and also I was tryiꦆng to find a way to put the leg on the foot peg quite easily throughout the day. 

"The more laps I was doing, the more solutions I was trying and the🔯 mor🌟e solutions I was finding. 

"I would sa𝓀y that the problem was becoming smaller and smaller during the day. Tomorrow I hope that it’s going to be better from that point of view. 

"It’s definitely a good day for me and I’♉m going to remember it."