Discover the second part of our exclusive interview with Johann Zarco, conducted during his test in Cartagena, in which he discusses his new teammate, Diogo Moreira.
Mid-January, Johann zarco The event brought together several French and Belgian drivers at the Cartagena circuit in Spain for two days of testing. The Paddock-GP team was there to follow them and prepare interviews with each of the talented drivers present.
You will find the series of interviews with John Zarco on our website until the official launch of the season in Thailand at the end of February, as well as the meetings we held with the pilots present, which we will share with you until March.
You can already discover our interviews with Barry Baltus, who learned a lot in 2025, Lorenzo Fellon, Currently without a handlebar this season, Bartholomé Perrin, who refuses to go to the World Cup to be 20th, Remy Sanjuan, which aims for the Moto3 Junior World Championship et Xavier Simeon, who now accompanies young pilots and the first part of our interview with Johann zarco.
On the eve of the 2026 season, and at 35 years old, Johann Zarco remains keenly observant of the new generation to refine his riding style. This year, he will have the pleasure of riding alongside the young reigning Moto2 world champion, Diogo Moreira. In the second part of this interview, we discuss with the Frenchman his relationship with the Brazilian, whom he praises highly, and how Moreira might adapt his training.
Let's talk about your new teammate, Diogo Moreira. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to train here. Do you regret not having shared the track with him in Cartagena?
No. Anyway, I had too many problems [with my bikes] on the first day. I don't regret it. Whether it worked or not, I would have been in my own world, like I was today. Afterwards, we had fun at the end of the session: we each put on new tires with Barry [Baltus], and we had a great run together. It was cool.
We saw you laughing together. As teammates, communication seems to be better than with your last two (Takaaki Nakagami and Somkiat Chantra).
Yes, that's true. Nakagami speaks excellent English, he's really cool, Taka and I have known each other since 2007-2008. But it's true he's not exactly the friendliest guy, let's say (laughs). It could be better with Diogo. Maybe we'll see each other more often at training sessions. If I increase my training schedule and start getting into flat track, there'll be a chance to meet up. Or maybe in supermoto, which Diogo does. Nakagami never rode. And besides, the guy who prepares Diogo's bikes and also assists him at the GPs is a fantastic bike mechanic. I'm in contact with him, which creates a connection with Diogo. Not a deep friendship, but I think we'll be spending a lot of time together.
Speaking of flat track, the TT Christmas event held at Rocco's Ranch in Barcelona last January gave you the opportunity to try it out. Is that something you'd like to do more often?
Personally, I'm not really into off-road riding. But it's true that flat track like this is quite fun. So, I want to do a bit more of it. It was really enjoyable. You have to detach yourself from pure performance. We all want to perform at some point, but you also have to remember that there's a crowd, that the crowd is happy to see Grand Prix riders, and that it makes for a great show. The crowd isn't necessarily going to judge you on your performance. So you have to see this moment as a great run, where you can push yourself without too much danger. Of course, there's no such thing as zero risk; some people get hurt. But it's a really fun compromise.
The setting is also quite nice…
And the place, Rocco's Ranch, they've done something amazing. It's something that could never be done in France because of safety regulations; it's mission impossible. They've managed to create something truly fantastic, which has grown year after year. I discovered Rocco's Ranch in 2014, and I can see that they've grown tremendously. It seems to me that there are no permanent buildings; they're all wooden cabins or canvas structures. It's very rustic, a real ranch.
How does that change anything in terms of your piloting?
Doing it like in Barcelona, with jumps and more acrobatic stuff… It's about seeing corners differently. I like to push forward to turn, and that doesn't work on bikes like these. So it's a bit different. They're just small jumps, but you can still learn to absorb them. And that's also about body technique, riding technique, that I think I'll learn. It opens me up to something else.
With Moreira, you already have a good competitor to help you progress. He's the king of this category.
I'm really just discovering him, but seeing how he rides and what he's capable of… I've been hearing for a long time that he's very strong in these categories, even in supermoto. I watch some videos. I think he's the only one who can compete with Marc Márquez in these disciplines. Because Marc Márquez, compared to other road racers, was clearly a cut above. He can ride in any category, he'll be good. That makes a huge, huge difference.
Does Diogo Moreira have the same adaptability as Marc Márquez?
Diogo has the same aptitude, I think. He doesn't have the same speed as Marc Márquez, or at least he hasn't demonstrated it as well as Marc. But in every other aspect, I think he has the same abilities. I haven't seen another rider with these qualities.
When you're good at flat track, does that develop your ability to adapt to any motorcycle?
It's possible, because it makes the mind much less rigid. It forces you to take a step back, to have an overall view, a view of the situation, of the problem, from a much higher perspective, I feel. That's interesting. It could be interesting for next year (2027. Ed.).
At 35, you remain very observant of how the younger generation is progressing. Do you have things to learn from Diogo and others?
Absolutely, yes. In terms of riding, it's about knowing what they're feeling, what they're telling their team, and how they're progressing. I feel like I'm running into some issues. I have a good feeling about the bike; it's proven itself. But I feel like I often encounter the same problem. That's where you have to open your mind and say to yourself: wait, approach the issue a little differently. Without forgetting what's good about you, but you have to evolve.
Do you still have the same desire to learn and improve your piloting skills?
Yes, I'm really keen because I know all these changes will make riding easier. And above all, I'll gain pace, I'll be able to do more and more. As a result, I'll have more energy on the bike. And that extra energy is essential for managing races and a whole season.
