At KTM, we approach this Italian Grand Prix in Mugello in different ways. On the one hand, we have Pol Espargaró impatient to do battle to find out whether his sixth place acquired during the last meeting at Le Mans should be written in stone or put in the exceptions section. And on the other, a Johann zarco who... doesn't know what to expect.
Johann zarco arrives for this sixth meeting of the season with the only hope of experiencing a less complicated life on the RC16 than the one he has lived until then. The championship standings speak for themselves. On one side we have a Pol Espargaró in ninth and on the other a Frenchman newly arrived in Mattighofen in fifteenth.
There is no point in turning the knife in the wound, especially since the double Moto2 World Champion does it himself… “ I don't know what to expect for Mugello because I've had problems in all the races so far. I still have to work » declared the tricolor reluctantly. “ But I think Le Mans was a great response with Pol Espargaró's good result. I had the same problems again and I'm trying to change my mindset and use the bike better, although it's not about winning, but at least being in the top ten ". A goal also assigned by KTM with a place in Q2.
« It’s in my head now as I train. I have other ideas and I'm trying to figure something out. I'm going to focus on the whole weekend ". Certainly, but the former Tech3 Yamaha rider gives an indication that is not reassuring: “ I don't think I'll use the new things seen with Pol Espargaró, because it's not the priority. We know what he has and why he wanted to use it at Le Mans. We have other issues we need to work on ».
Nothing is less certain to see the carbon swinging arm on the KTM bearing the number 5… Finally, John Zarco summarizes the situation among the Austrians as follows: “ At the moment it's a bit like with Stoner, when only Casey managed to be fast on the Ducati in 2007. KTM would certainly be happier if they were competitive with four bikes ».
