But in reality, Sepang was Morbidelli’s most competitive ꧑week❀end of the year.

The Italian qualified a season-best seventh and settled into the top six in the early stages of the race, before having to serve two long lap penalties from f𒆙ree practice.

Those dropped the Monster Yamaha rider to 15th but he fought for𓄧wards to tenth at the chequered flag, only to receive a post-race penalty for clashing with Aleix Espargaro on the final lap, demoting him to ele♔venth.

Morbidelli also set the fifth fastest lap of the race, quicker than team-mate and reigning champion Fabio Quartararo, who completed the Sepang podium iꦯn third.

Without the penalties, Morbidelli felt a top five was possible, something he hasn't a☂chieved ✤since his last podium visit, at Jerez 2021.

“To come back from [the doubl💖e long lap] and still take tenth place shows how strong his pace really was today,” said Monster Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli. “This was probably his best ride of𝐆 the season.”

Morbidelli, title runner-up with three wins in 2020, has been trying to shift from his naturally smooth style to Quartararo-🥀style 'aggression'.

The #21 explained that a ‘small change’ at Sepang had☂ allowed him to do just that, releasing more corner speed from the M1.

“It’s something we have been working on for a lot of time. This f**king qualifying with new tyres, I've been struggling so muc🐟h!” Mo꧂rbidelli said.

“We started the weekend with a small change on the bike that gave me that ‘plus’ in t♊he feeling, and then I knew I had to keep that aggressive style for qualifying and even step it up.

“This allowed me to make the bike wꦬork, this allowed me to be really quick and fast in the corners, which is the only area where we can do something.

“So I'm happy about that, I'm just happy that we manag൲ed to do it this weekend.

“I'm really looking forward to Valencia, to see if the improvements we had here, and the level we were able to maintain here throughout every session and every con🙈dition, [continue].”

For now, Morbidelli remains ꧋cautiously optimistic.

“I'm not certain. I cannot be certain about the future. But I can be really hopeful. And I can trust ♎in the level that I was able to have this weekend. Which looked really good and really c🧸onsistent and really quick... You know, usual Frankie.”

While Qu♌artararo takes a very 🧸slim title chance into the season finale, Morbidelli is currently 19th in the world championship.

The pair will test the 𒈔;latest version of the 2023 Yamaha during the Tuesday post-race test at Valencia.