MotoGP Portugal Day 3, Johann Zarco (Honda/9): "There's no fun on the bike, I'm fighting with it."

Johann Zarco had a very difficult race in Portugal. Admittedly, he's back in the top 10, a position he's struggled to reach since his second-place finish in Great Britain. As for the rest, He had to make do with a motorcycle that didn't give him the necessary feel.This is quite a handicap. Honda's comeback to the top has stalled, with Joan Mir's double retirement and Luca Marini's mediocre performance throughout the weekend. Zarco, who was overtaken many times today, shares his thoughts.

The Frenchman wasn't at his happiest when he faced the press in Portimao. Naturally, he pointed out a few negative aspects. « There's no fun to be had on the motorcycle, and the pace isn't there either.I'm struggling with it. The handling isn't natural; I can't let it do its thing, otherwise I won't get anywhere. It's frustrating. Yes, I knew Fabio Di Giannantonio was there at the end. I tried to negotiate the first two corners well to prevent him from attacking, but he persisted and I couldn't hold him off. I have to accept seeing others slip away, and that's difficult. » he asserted on GP One.

 

 

Zarco is still in a good position to finish as the top Honda rider in the overall standings. At the time of writing, he has an 11-point lead over Luca Marini with one race remaining. « On the positive side, I would say that I can attack without falling, I'm able to managePerhaps if I had been able to overtake Fabio Quartararo, it would have been different. It's true that our bikes are completely different. Fabio managed to find a second wind and regained the lead. I wanted to keep Ogura behind me, but when he attacked, I couldn't hold him back." he continued.

 

 

As if that wasn't enough, he also experienced a mechanical problem. « I started strong, but by the second lap I had a small problem with the clutch.I had to ease off the throttle to preserve it, and after a few laps, it started working again. I'm glad I was able to manage it, because it's the second time this problem has happened to me. But now, I can't fight with the others, because right now, I'm fighting with the bike. I'm happy to regain my confidence and be able to push harder. Qualifying was okay, I'm better at the start, but I can't compete with the othersSo, I'm doing my shopping while I wait for this to pass, but I fight to the best of my ability." he concluded.

Do you think he will secure the title of best Honda rider in Valencia? Tell us in the comments!

Result of the 2025 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: LCR