Are you rested? Are you ready to go behind the scenes of MotoGP in general, and the Tech3 team in particular? So here we go again with a Johann Zarco whom, let's remember, you might be able to meet during a dream weekend in Misano ...
Far from the somewhat formatted communication of traditional press releases, the exchanges between the French pilot and the journalists in the Tech3 hospitality are of a richness and simplicity that true enthusiasts will appreciate (you can find all his past debriefs in our section ( "Interviews"). There is always the little detail that immerses us more every day in the world of MotoGP…
As usual, we report here the entirety of the comments of Johann zarco, in a raw way, therefore without any journalistic formatting or distortion.
Johann zarco : “For me, the day was good. We restarted the season with wet conditions, which was good for me because I was able to start smoothly again, which is good for the feeling. I knew that on this track I could have problems in the wet. Last year it was very difficult for me in Moto2. I wasn't worried, just focused on having a good rhythm and quickly understanding the bike and the track. I'm glad I did it well. I was always in the leading group, and in the end, I finished first, which is good for confidence in the wet.
In the afternoon, in the dry, the track was constantly improving but it also needed to be covered with tire rubber. Lap after lap, the pace improved, and I was pretty OK because I was still in the Top 10. At the end we fitted a soft rear tire to improve, which I did, and I am remained in the leading group, which is the main thing to prepare for Saturday's qualification. »
Did you know that the track would improve by adding rubber?
“I think tomorrow, if it’s dry, it will be even better. Everyone will improve and I think the pace should be 1'55. So I have to work with the team and stay focused to find the references on the track, to be in 1'55, then work on this pace. »
Because of the width of its track, the Brno circuit is said to be difficult because it is not easy to find your bearings and there can be different trajectories...
“With experience now, I know that I like this circuit and that it is quite good for me. The width of its layout doesn't bother me and can even help me. I have fun there and when you feel good, you drive like never before, and being with the best gives you great confidence and very good references to work with. »
Finally, the wet track this morning was an opportunity for you to approach this MotoGP circuit more calmly...
" Exactly ! And maybe also because we haven't done any testing here, it's better, because if we had had a dry track all weekend, there are a lot of things to work on and it's very difficult at the end of the weekend. In my case, it's good to have disrupted weather. »
Did this morning's session in the wet give you confidence for the race which should take place in the same conditions?
“Totally. I have great confidence in the wet. At the Sachsenring, we drove a lot in the wet. When the track has good grip and it's wet, I still find it hard to realize that the bike can have such grip and go so fast in the wet. Today, I was able to force my mind and tell myself that we could go so fast in the wet. Even though I'm a good driver, I still find it hard to believe that you can go so fast in the wet. So in the end, the sensations were good and it was useful to ride this morning. I still lacked a little confidence, but with the 20 laps completed this morning, I gained it. »
Is it the confidence that you lacked at Assen?
“It's more the feeling I had at Sachsenring with wet tires. I felt like I was improving, but I think I took another step forward. When the track is good, just like the bike, you have to push, even in the wet. I was able to do it and I need to keep it in mind so I can do it again on Sunday if it's wet. »
How many days did you have without riding a motorcycle during the summer break?
“Um, I did three days of motorcycling in total, Supermotard because it's our best way of training, and I also did a little test with an R1 for a sponsor, but that always means putting on the leather and do laps on a track. So the longest break was a maximum of 10 days without a motorbike. We never went beyond 15 days in any case. We try to do three training sessions per month because that allows us to do almost one motorcycle training session per week. »
Do you have a better chance of winning a race in the dry or the wet?
“(silence) I am aiming for consistency over the weekend, always to prepare as best as possible for this qualification in order to start on the first two rows, for, initially top five, podium, repeat podium, and then victory. So, whatever the conditions, it is in any case regular work that will lead me to victory. You never know what moves you can make, but I can see building something solid and often arriving on the podium, which will already earn a lot of points for the championship. And that's important. »
Don't you have a preference?
" No. Compared to the test in the rain this morning, I am happy to have had good sensations, and therefore to be able to say to myself that even in rainy conditions, yes, I can take the confidence and go and play for the win . In dry conditions, for the moment it remains difficult because the pace in the dry is still so intense that there is still experience to be gained.
Afterwards, it’s true that according to Laurent, it will be drying conditions which…
I can get an advantage over people who damage their tires more than others. It's true that when it dries, I always have this advantage, like when I took pole at Assen. I didn't get the one at the Sachsenring, but the way Márquez took pole was really in the style I was used to doing in Moto2. It was almost a copy/paste from Assen. Simply, I wasn't in Q2 and it didn't do it. Dry conditions give me good sensations, better than rain/rain. But it's hard to play the card only on that because the tires don't react the same as in Moto2. The tire experience helped me more in Moto2. There, for the moment, I sometimes have good sensations, and my fluid style sometimes allows me not to ask too much from the tires. In dry conditions with wet tires, it is very effective, as far as tire wear is concerned, I still have some knowledge and feeling to gain. »
Which of the nine upcoming circuits are more favorable to you?
" Not especially. No. Last year, in Austria, I had good sensations and I don't see why, with the Yamaha, it wouldn't be good sensations. In any case, I am currently in the Czech Republic, a circuit that I like. The Yamaha normally goes very fast on this circuit so I try to work and take the cues I see on TV to repeat all that. »
Will the second part of the season be a big challenge, when we know what you did in the first?
“No, in any case I don’t have that pressure. I take it race by race. The main objective remains to be the best beginner of the year. To be a better beginner, you have to aim for the podiums so you aim for the podiums, and that's the beauty of competition. Knowing how to use 100% of the bike will take me to the podium because the bike is totally worth that. »
To be the first beginner, you will have to face your teammate who seems to be progressing well...
“This is why, already, just aiming for this objective is more than reasonable. If we are both on the podium, it will initially please us, highlight the team and it will be happiness for both of us. That's for sure ! So much the better ! I think it's a great competition, and it's not the same pressure that I experienced during the second world title last year. »
So a positive rivalry?
“Yes, very positive! »
Finally, when he is in front of you, what is your first reaction?
" Everything is possible ! (Laughs) No, I tell myself that if he did that, it's really because the bike is working well and he's feeling good too. When I see his performances, I also begin, little by little, to analyze his way of driving more, what can he do better than me or not, and so I also take an example from him. Because we really have the same bike. »
And the factories, which arrived with motorcycles developed during the summer, and which are not very efficient?
“I really don’t care about it. I really want to keep my head free, and so I don't worry about it. »
FP2 Ranking:
01- Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – 1'56.332
02- Jonas Folger – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.398
03- Danilo Petrucci – OCTO Pramac Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 0.419
04- Johann Zarco – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.530
05- Hector Barbera – Reale Avintia Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 0.532
06- Scott Redding – OCTO Pramac Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 0.573
07- Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda Team - Honda RC213V - + 0.601
08- Cal Crutchlow – LCR Honda – Honda RC213V – + 0.629
09- Aleix Espargaro – Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – Aprilia RS-GP – + 0.687
10- Marc Marquez – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 0.877
11- Maverick Vinales – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.957
12- Alvaro Bautista – Pull&Bear Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 0.982
13- Pol Espargaro – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM RC16 – + 1.046
14- Valentino Rossi – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.064
15- Jorge Lorenzo – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 1.305
16- Karel Abraham – Pull&Bear Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 1.537
17- Loris Baz – Reale Avintia Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 1.660
18- Alex Rins – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki GSX-RR – + 1.710
19- Jack Miller – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Honda RC213V – + 1.847
20- Andrea Iannone – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki GSX-RR – + 1.862
21- Tito Rabat – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Honda RC213V – + 2.105
22- Sam Lowes – Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – Aprilia RS-GP – + 2.306
23- Bradley Smith – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM RC16 – + 3.050
