We perpetuate our habit of referring to you in full the words of Johann Zarco, in a raw way, therefore without journalistic formatting or distortion.
Alongside the sometimes slightly formatted communication of traditional press releases, the exchanges between the French rider and the journalists in the hospitality of the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team are of a richness and simplicity that true enthusiasts will appreciate (you can find all his past debriefings in our section “Interviews").
Johann zarco: “Regarding Aragon, it is for me a great circuit on which I struggled a lot in Moto2 and also in MotoGP last year. I do not know why. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful track with turns 10 then 16 and 17. I've always had the same problems there in Moto2 and MotoGP. I hope this year I can find a solution. I have already spoken with my guys to find a solution and for them to give me this feeling of ease in the turns, instead of struggling. There is still the same rear grip problem here and we are spinning a lot. And I'm perhaps one of those who skate the most since I have more problems. So we'll see. In any case we know that we will only be able to achieve good results in tricky conditions because if it is really dry, we have not done a test here and, compared to Misano it is not a track on which I feel that sometimes I can do something more. I'm not starting out pessimistic but at the moment I can't hope for great things, so we'll see what happens.”
In your press release you say you are focused on the battle to be the leading independent pilot…
“Yes, even if it seems that we are struggling a lot, we are 9 points behind Cal who had a very good podium in Misano. So that means it's typically a good championship that we can fight for, and it would be nice to repeat that title that I had last year. I know that I feel very fresh for the 6 races that remain and I don't feel like I'm at the end of the season, so that can be a big advantage for me.
You were probably already thinking about this title at the start of the year, but not necessarily about this place in the world rankings. Have you seen the factories evolve this year while your motorcycle has remained frozen?
“What I can explain is that last year and even this year at the start of the season we used the bike 100%, and perhaps better than what the others could do. But now, 100% is no longer enough. I think that's what makes the biggest difference, and I can't think of any other reason, except maybe the pilot losing his skills (laughs) or his driving skills. But no, I'm not that bad. Not yet (laughs).”
So that means you think the other drivers have also taken a step forward?
“First and foremost, other bikes. It's easier to say the other bikes. I don't know. The only thing I'll be able to find out, by changing bikes at the end of the season, is what the bike brings or doesn't, and then from that point I might be able to say "OK, I'll I need to work on some things on myself.”
How do you hope to resolve your recurring skating problem?
“When you struggle with rear grip and slippage here, I think if you try to fix just that, you're going in the wrong direction. And because now, for many races, we are sliding a lot but we stop focusing on that and work on other things on the bike, we are progressing during the weekend. We can't show it during the race but we do a very good job during the weekend. If we started the race at the level we start the weekend at, we would finish 20th. So this means that if we finish tenth, we progress in the same way as the others, but at the level of 10th position. So here I am expecting us to have some skating right away and I already know we're not going to be totally focused on it. We will find other solutions that have helped us a lot for many races. But I keep them to myself and I don’t want to talk about them too much.”
At Misano, a French journalist reported that Valentino thought the Yamaha's problem was with their engine. Do you think a V4 could be the solution?
“It’s too technical for me. I'm not an engineer to know that. Vale has already raced with V engines, with Honda then Ducati, so he knows the reactions of this engine better. Personally, I have never ridden a motorcycle like that.”
Do you feel limited with an in-line 4-cylinder?
" I don't know. Maybe that's where the problem I'm having comes from, but it's hard to say."
What have you been doing for training since Misano?
" Not much. Laurent is in Spain so I haven't driven much. I only rode once. I stayed in shape and took up boxing again. It's a sign that I have regained great motivation and good form, because I could no longer go to boxing: I felt tired and I was thinking too much, all that. So, besides getting hit, it wasn't good (laughs). So, I came home and started boxing again, and it gave me a crazy boost. A pep and a black eye (laughs), but a pep above all.”
What has changed compared to last year at this time?
“Last year, I was also good at that time. But the way we manage the whole season can make us make a difference at some point. So I hope that this can be one of the factors that will make me seek the position of first independent.”
Faced with Ducati and Honda, do you think Yamaha has a chance this weekend?
“Last year, with a broken leg, Rossi is leading the race, I think. So it's hard to say. But yes, I think they can still have a chance because it's a much bigger circuit than Misano, and therefore we can recover a little of the advantages of the Yamaha.
Do you feel at home here? It’s a place where you often come to train. Is this a circuit that you like?
“Yes, I like it, that’s clear. But I would like to enjoy the track even more by having good results on it. I ride, and it immediately pays off. But lately it's been more “I ride and it doesn’t come easily”, so we have more fun when what we do works. But I think this track is a real Grand Prix track, because everything is perfect.”
You and your team continue to be motivated since you are driving faster than last year on each circuit…
“Yes, that’s for sure, we have enthusiasts on the team. A Guy doesn't give up. They also see that I’m going for it, so we stick with it and it helps us evolve and learn lots of things.”
What is the main lesson learned from these first 13 races?
“Last year, I was riding a wave because we had put our finger on something, not without realizing it but almost. There, I have the impression of being much more ready to attack my races, but ultimately the result is less good. And so I hope that what I'm experiencing here is more " back off to better blow up ". I can never miss Q2, so it’s a sign that I know how to manage a MotoGP race weekend much better.”
You did well during the tests in Thailand at the start of the season, and that will be new for everyone in Buriram this year. Do you think this will be an advantage for you?
“Yes, you have to take it as an advantage. Already, from the start, the start will be good and perhaps better than on the other circuits, because no one has come back since then, and that is always an extra card to play. I say that I'm leaving like the others. I’m not leaving with anything less, but like the others, and we’ll see if with that, I can be in good shape.”
Find all of Johann Zarco’s other debriefings here!
