Johann zarco had already revealed, in his post-French Grand Prix debriefing at Le Mans, not having used his start device so as not to risk not being able to unlock it before the Dunlop chicane.
He was naturally referring to the front start device, which locks the fork in position when braking hard, then unlocks it in the same way at the first braking point. Given the track conditions and the layout of the Bugatti circuit, the Frenchman didn't want to risk having to go through the chicane with the fork locked, even though this cautious choice cost him a lot of time at the start.
"I lost a lot of time at the start because I didn't want to use a starting device. I didn't know how the braking would be in the first corner, so I preferred to play it safe. But I lost a lot of time."
Yesterday, during the press conference ahead of the Grand Prix MotoGP from the UK, he was asked if the difference in speed between the riders on slick tires and others, like him, on wet tires, was the cause of the incident at the first corner. The LCR rider does not believe so and reiterated his explanation.
« I didn't really compare the difference between slick and wet tires in detail at the start, because normally there isn't a big difference. My start was completely ruined because I didn't use the start device. And what's tricky at Le Mans is that first corner: Starting this turn with the device engaged is very risky. That's why I chose not to use it, but then I lost all my positions. That said, I negotiated the first corner well, I had control, while some drivers, who had made a good start, perhaps had less control in the first and second corners.
More John Zarco then raised a somewhat surprising and more drastic possibility: the pilots might agree not to use the start device at Le Mans next year, or even on other tracks where the first corner is fluid or close to the starting grid.
"We've talked about it a bit among the drivers, and we're perhaps considering not using the start device at Le Mans next year. There are other circuits where we're also thinking about it, like Australia or even here at Silverstone. But on those circuits, you brake harder in the first corner than at Le Mans, so it might only be at Le Mans that we decide not to use the start device."
Of course, we do not forget the incidents that have already occurred on this subject, such as, for example: Jack Miller precisely at Silverstone in 2019, but from there to get all the drivers to agree...
In any case, all these systems will be banned from 2027.
