Before sharing with you the entire press debriefing of Johann Zarco, we cannot resist the pleasure of bringing to your attention the analysis of Mr. Eric de Seynes on the subject of the French rider's first tests in MotoGP in Valence.
Words as beautiful and sincere as they are relevant from the General Manager of Yamaha Motor Corporation, who remains as passionate as ever, as evidenced by the photo taken during his registration for the new TZ Club France.
Mr De Seynes, before talking about Johann Zarco, we know that there is a plan for you to test a Yamaha M1 in Japan. Has this already happened?
“No, I have never driven an M1 but it is part of my dreams and I am lucky to have once shared this dream with Fuji San who is the head of the competition department in Japan, and who told me gave the most surprising answer I could expect, since he told me “you take your helmet and you tell me which Monday you want to come after a Grand Prix and we’ll ride”. And since then, I haven't dared to remind him, I found it so crazy (laughs). But I haven't forgotten, so I think it will happen, yes. »
You followed Johann Zarco's first tests in MotoGP. What are your reactions ?
“Yes, I debriefed with Laurent and with Johann and I think Johann approached it correctly, that is to say he didn't get carried away. First of all, I think he had an absolutely magnificent end to the season. The last two Grands Prix were masterful. I really liked the Valencia race, where honestly it was easy for him to let Morbidelli slip away seeing his aggressiveness. But he didn't want to give up and wanted to leave the Moto2 category with the title, with a victory, with a pole, with a best lap in the race, that is to say with the best possible panache to be sure of 'approach the MotoGP category with the highest level of confidence he could have in himself. He managed that, and it was so easy, in two days with the M1, to make a mistake that he didn't make, that I think he tackles it extremely well.
He's a hard worker, everyone knows that, but he's not just a hard worker; He’s someone who has talent! And unfortunately, far too many people have caricatured him for many years as just a worker, which is false. He is someone who has built himself. I have had the chance to work with him for six years and I have seen how he has developed mentally. Today, he is a high-level professional driver, and who must achieve great things with the M1, differently from what a Pol Espargaro or a Cal Crutchlow could do in his time, because at this level, you can only be a good pilot by letting your personality express itself. This means that you have to be yourself.
You know, I have a phrase that struck me one day... The most beautiful phrase you can give to a child is “When you grow up, above all, be yourself”. And it's not about being someone else. It's so easy, it's so easy... Whether you're in a professional world, where you're given stripes, where you're given titles, or whether you're in a sporting world, where you're given title titles. world champion, and suddenly you can become someone else. I believe that when you manage to reach the high level, whatever your field, whether you are in cabinetmaking or Grand Prix driving, and you know how to remain yourself, that is where you are the best. stronger. And I believe that today, Johann knew how to remain himself, or found who he was. And the way he approached the M1 and the first tests with Tech3 are, I think, in his image. So, I have great confidence and above all he must follow his road plan, his road plan, but I think that he has already demonstrated that he has approached the category in the right way. . »
