If some drivers covered more than three times the race distance during this single IRTA test day in Barcelona on Monday, Johann Zarco, still enjoying his great comeback during the Grand Prix, was content with 33 loops in order to not to draw too much on its energy capital before Assen.
Work on the suspensions allowed the Tech3 driver to position himself as the seventh fastest driver of the day, 4 tenths behind his teammate (see ranking).
At the end of the day, Johann zarco granted a press conference of which we report here the entirety of the remarks made in French, in a raw manner, therefore without any journalistic formatting or distortion.
Did you do a good job?
“It’s not the same pace, but it’s nice. I told myself that it was a good life to ride a motorcycle that goes over 300 km/h and has incredible performance. So it's not quite the same spirit, but the fact of having attacked throughout the weekend means that the feeling is there. So we don't waste time. In a run, you immediately get into the rhythm and start working. Then, I find that, apart from the fact that the conditions change from one day to the next, it's really quality work that we can do on Monday. »
What did you work on today?
“We worked on the suspensions, whether to have more comfort when braking or entering corners, to be able to relax on the bike. We tried a shock absorber. We have a bike that is going well and we are playing with the suspensions to get more and more information. Today I was relaxed enough and really enjoyed myself. »
In light of the work done today, how do you analyze your performance yesterday?
“Already, on Sunday, the analysis was that, Friday and Saturday, I perhaps did not manage my emotions well enough. I was having difficulties on the bike and there was no miracle solution. It was once I understood that that I was able to approach the subject with a little more distance and get less angry. It worked a lot on Sunday. Finally, when I'm in trouble, I'm not the only one. When you then see, during the race, that others are having difficulty, it gives you confidence and allows you to better manage yourself. That was especially the lesson of the weekend. I was able to understand it on Sunday. Today, Monday, there was no particular learning. »
What are you missing today to progress?
" To handle better. Laurent was happy with the race, but overall over the weekend, not happy, because he saw from the start that I had good energy and that it could work, but not having managed to do well managing all that meant I went far down the grid. If I had been on the first two rows, I would have made the podium. I thought fifth was already great, but he said “no” because if we had the potential for the podium, it’s really more than a shame that we missed it. This is good, because it pushes you to perform better. You have to manage well throughout the weekend because, in all cases, the Yamaha is good, and that's why when there are problems, you don't have to panic, because the bike doesn't transform. Knowing how to manage ourselves better to control our strengths is what I didn't do enough during the weekend. »
When, during testing and in the race, you see the two Tech3s ahead of the blues, what do you say to yourself?
“That black is more aerodynamic (laughs). No, I think it's interesting because we're doing our job, there are the Yamaha technicians who are there to ask me if, given the performance, I could change the chassis during the year. But I think it's good to have what you have, to work with it, to push what you can have to the maximum, to have more and more experience with these tires, and at that point maybe they will compromise the 2018 chassis which will be even better. »
Not too many demonstrations from Japanese engineers? They come to congratulate you?
" No no no. They are very discreet. I think they are happy with what we do, the work we do, and without saying it, they take note. I'm not particularly asking for recognition. My bike is fine and I'm happy. »
