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.
You were able to test the new coating in the dry and wet. What do you think ?
“It was good to have these two conditions. Above all, this morning, I was able to discover the circuit with a MotoGP. It was pretty OK, and when we put a new tire on, at the end I took seventh position, so it's positive to already be qualified for Q2 in case it rains on Saturday morning. This afternoon, with the rain and the wet track, I was happy because I was able to make some marks again in the wet. The grip is pretty fantastic in the wet, as Barbera is only 6 seconds slower than he did in the dry, so you can imagine how good the grip is. For me, with wet tires it's difficult to understand how far you can push. I need some time but I'm glad I was able to get some this afternoon. It became dry, so I felt better, but it rained again. I stayed on the track and really had a good feeling, improving lap after lap. Then I fell but that can happen. You can have good sensations in the wet, and sometimes fall. I was able to leave with the second bike 10 minutes from the end to avoid this fall and keep this confidence. It was OK and very interesting. »
What about grip with tire degradation? And have you made your choice of tires?
“For me, taking the medium front tire was good. For the rear, we'll see: we have four possibilities, and the third may be the best solution for racing, although I haven't tried it yet. The softer option allows you to set good times but 30 laps here is rather long. So really, we'll see. But both rear tires I used, the medium and the soft, were OK. I was able to get a good feeling but anyway we have to work on the bike to make me feel comfortable. For the 30 laps, if you struggle after five laps, the race turns into a nightmare, whereas I want to have a dream race (laughs). »
Haven't tried all the tires?
“No, because even if you have 50 minutes, you can't try them all. The job is to discover the circuit with a MotoGP, here at the Sachsenring, and work on the bike. If you start trying all the tires, you're doing another job. »
What do you think of the Sachsenring with a MotoGP?
" It's OK. We have a lot of wheelies on the straight, but when my front wheel finally hits the track, it doesn't slide too much, so the confidence is good. And even on the descent, the power control is good, and it's more impressive on other circuits than here. »
Aleix Espargaro said the bank of turn 11 was changed. Can you feel it?
" No. I'm always afraid of losing the front there because when you see the guys crashing and you know the speed, you say to yourself that you don't want to be in their place, so for many years, even in Moto2, I'm always careful out there, and again today, whether it was dry or wet, I was careful. So nothing happened, which is good. Maybe the track is better but we have to be careful because it's only the third right turn of the track and if you push too much sometimes the tire can be a little cold. »
We talked a lot about the dry track and the wet track, but what about the wind?
“If the wind stays in the same direction, we only have to be careful at turn 10. So even if we have more wind on Sunday, but it's in the same direction, it's OK because I already know how to handle it. But if the wind changes, yes, it can be complicated in other places. We will see. With a MotoGP, the wind is not a big problem. »
Did you easily move on from Assen? How did that happen ?
" It went very well. The advantage of leading 11 laps, when you watch the race the next day, is that you see yourself a lot on TV. And that allows me to analyze and compare my style to others. What I felt and what I see on TV. And ultimately, the analysis still remains very positive. I'm happy to have led. But then, when it starts to rain, and when on TV I saw how the guys in front were still able to ride, I tell myself that in the end the Michelin probably reacted differently than the Dunlops when there started to be little drops. When it starts to rain, I think the Dunlop can surprise a lot more. I find that in these conditions, we would have already fallen with the Dunlops whereas with the Michelins, they remained on the road. And that is experience and knowledge of the tire which will surely allow me to stay on the track next time. But the analysis was very positive and the goal is to continue to keep the troops motivated with warmth in their hearts to see that we can take podiums and victory. »
10 minutes more this morning, on a turnstile like that, was that enough to get back on track?
“In terms of body fatigue, no, because the bike is still easier to ride than a Moto2. So the body doesn't suffer more and, yes, 55 minutes was good. Because it ultimately allows you to have the same strategy for three runs, but I was able to at least do 10 laps each time during my first two runs, and even if it's a small circuit, 10 laps, you save full of information. »
Why is MotoGP easier than Moto2?
“I think it’s the engine that wants that. The engine of a Moto2 is even bigger than the engine of a MotoGP, while the bike is less powerful. Finally, even if a Moto2 is almost 20 kg lighter, a MotoGP is easier to lay down than a Moto2, there is less inertia. »
What do you think of the coating compared to last year?
" It looks good. It's almost like Malaysia: it still seems like there are spots that never dry. Hence the fall, in my opinion, of Martin, because before losing the rear, he lost the front. As he was coming out of the corner, he slipped forward, so there was a stain on the ground. »
Was it the same for you?
“No, no, it was the back. But there it was completely wet. Even us, when we were riding in the dry, sometimes you feel that it's leaving a little, so it's hard to see if there are still wet spots. It seems so. So that's what's difficult, when it's going to rain-dry, rain-dry. Afterwards, in the dry, the Moto2s are going rather quickly, the Moto3s not yet, and the MotoGP, compared to last year, they are going faster. Except that maybe it's because of the tires or because of the track, I find it hard to say. »
For tire allocation, do you think you are good?
“It seems to be okay, we haven't yet confirmed the racing tires. 30 laps is a long time, so you really have to have the intelligence of Valentino, and count on 30 laps, and not count on 5.”
According to Rossi, you don't know how to overtake in MotoGP... What are your comments?
“It means that there is only room for progress, and so that’s good. Afterwards, it's intimidation, so it's good. »
Don't you think it's because you changed your status and became a dangerous pilot? This kind of remark doesn't happen without reason...
“It’s true that we had two contacts. Afterwards, I told the media, every time we touch he finishes first or second, so it's not a problem. No, no, it's good. Afterwards, I'm happy every time I can attack him, because we're like kids behind him. And it's weird, when you're a kid, to have to attack your idol. And so, little by little, I manage to put some courage in my head to tell myself that if I'm there on the bend at the same time as him, it's because... well, you're worth as much as him, so go- y! And these are mental steps that are important to pass. »
Do you know that he is very strong in psychological combat?
" Yes I know. In vice, the Italians are good, but the French are still very trickster too (laughs). »
The rain has returned ☔️#GermanGP pic.twitter.com/50UXZCp9Pw
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) June 30, 2017
