Franco Morbidelli is set to make hisꦺtory for the VR46 Riders Academy once, and perhaps twice, in the near future.

The Italian is now certain to become the first Academy rider to re🅷ach MotoGP, having signed to step-up to the premier-class with Marc VD𝕴S.

And Morbidelli also looks on♏ course to become the Academy's first world champion, holding a commanding 34-point lead over nearest rival Thomas Luthi at the halfway stage of the season.

So how does friend and mento𓆉r Valentino Rossi feel about racing with Morbidelli in MotoGP next year?

"I've known Franco 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 pos♒ition 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 with my father, a long time ago, and he started to trai🐬n with me and with Marco Si💯moncelli on the 450. From that moment we became friends.

"I think he has a great potential. He has a great talent 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!"