By reading our columns regularly, you already know most of what happened last weekend, concerning current events in general and John Zarco especially. But as you can see on a daily basis, we make it our duty, as often as possible, to produce “real exclusive material” rather than basing our activity on a single, always approximate translation of articles from the foreign press.
It is with this in mind that we very regularly offer you scoops, interviews, technical articles and full reports of pilot declarations. And it is of course in this last category, sometimes detailed, sometimes more concise, that our daily series of “raw and hot” debriefings of Johann zarco with, today, his statements after the Argentine Grand Prix delivered in English in the hospitality of the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team.
Johann zarco: “I am very happy with this fifth place. I'm ranked two places higher because Márquez and Dani crashed, but regardless, I was able to fight. Starting from 14th position is difficult, as is being in a pack at over 300 km/h. But I was able to manage it because my feeling was good on the bike. I knew my weak point and, nevertheless, I told the team “I prefer to manage this weak point and have a good feeling everywhere else”. I was happy to fight, managing well, then having my race when I got fourth. I fought with Bautista, he took that position and he had a better pace than me and I couldn't keep up with him. I really tried, but I couldn't. So by trying to follow him, I was able to save this fifth place, and after Qatar where it was good for confidence to start well and lead the race, it was also important to control your mind and finish this race, because finishing the race is also good for confidence. I did it, and I did it in a good way, so I'm just happy. We work well with the team and we know our weak point: we just need time to fix it.”
What is your weak point?
I think my weak point lies in traction out of corners. I can be very good on braking, entering corners, passing speed, but I lose too much time on go-around, so we will work on that and find out.
Were you able to learn anything?
"Yes ! Starting 14th is another experience and being able to control your bikes and overtake the others, trying not to touch them because when you overtake you can sometimes touch the one in front of you. So, I took time to control this in Moto2 and I need time to control it also in MotoGP. Today was positive but we continue to work because it is the only way to progress.”
You have chosen to use a hard rear tire…
“I used the hard back because it was the one I had the best feeling with and it was the safest for us. I think it was a good choice because I was able to handle this tire well. It may have been a little difficult during the last two laps, but fifth position was assured even if Jonas came back quickly. That was enough for me.”
You could see your rear tire smoking when accelerating. When this happens, is the grip still there?
“The goal was to fight and keep up with the others, so, smoke or no smoke, I just wanted to attack.”
Ranking :
1. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 41m 45.060s
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 41m 47.975s
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 41m 48.814s
4. Alvaro Bautista ESP Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP16) 41m 51.583s
5. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 42m 0.564s
6. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
42m 3.301s
7. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 42m 5.106s
8. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 42m 10.540s
9. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 42m 10.725s
10. Karel Abraham CZE Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP15) 42m 11.463s
11. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 42m 12.012s
12. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 42m 26.935s
13. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 42m 27.830s
14. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 42m 28.145s
15. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 42m 28.512s
16. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
42m 31.279s
