Johann Zarco here, Johann Zarco there; we never stop hearing about, and talking about, the double French world champion!
And fortunately it's not over because the enthusiasm that the French rider has generated since his arrival in MotoGP is starting to generate extremely positive initiatives for the French-speaking Grand Prix world.
For example, with his atypical career, his unfailing determination, his strong character and his well-developed intellect, but also his apprenticeship school set up with Laurent Fellon, his mentor and partner in their company ZF Grand Prix, the driver Tech3 seemed like a ready-made character with enough material to be the subject of a film.
Well, this film is going to see the light of day!
Directed by the former Grand Prix driver Bernard Fau who completed, last year, the DVD “Once upon a time there was the Continental Circus” (available here), this feature film will make the link between the pilots of yesteryear and Johann Zarco.
Several scenes have already been shot and we were able to take stock of the progress of the project with its author.
Bernard, can you explain to us how you came up with this idea?
Bernard Fau : “I met Laurent Fellon and Johann three or four years ago, since I had started the film “Once upon a time the Continental Circus” in 2013, and Laurent was already on the Carole circuit for the 125 race cm³. That's where we met and I saw how he spoke to Johann about me. The French generation of the Continental… so I understood that Johann was really educated and informed that, before the current generation, there had been a past with several generations of passionate pilots who made do with what they had.
I think he learned this lesson and so, like last year I opened a door to the INA archives, the idea was to take advantage of it before it closed to jump on the opportunity and propose my idea to Laurent and Johann. Like everyone, I followed his last two seasons on TV, and when I saw Laurent at the press conference, I told him: “what you did was fabulous. The second title is exceptional! That’s the hardest part, it’s all the nail-biting stuff.” And so, how can I talk about whether there would be a sequel to my DVD, I said to myself “well, there you go!” I have the subject! A modern pilot and the past. And around him, Laurent, who knew the Continental, Guy Coulon and Hervé Poncharal who also know it. » There you go, there is this whole family there around Johann, who is a modern pilot. Today, I tell myself that the results prove me a little bit right because it has never been so much in the news, and that is legitimate. And it will stay that way because whatever he does this season, the subject is the same. »
A modern pilot, certainly, but a pilot with substance, with thickness...
" Obviously ! His journey, his initiatives to develop motorcycles, his training school; he is the only one who does this. It's interesting from many points of view, even apart from its notoriety and its results. So, I said to myself "here it is, the portrait of a modern driver, what that represents, the work, the mentor because it shows that today the race is done by two people, without forgetting the French team as it you have to, with all the people you know
So there you have it, I'm setting off on the adventure of following him as best I can, depending on his availability outside the Grands Prix, to tell him about it and find links with the past to make comparisons. We often say “to judge is to compare”, whether for a motorcycle or something else. There should be contrast there. »
So Johann will be the main subject of the film?
“It will be the common thread. There will be his portrait and returns to the past. A bit like in my first film where the ICGP and I were a pretext to tell the story of the past. Without the INA, without the archives, I would never have made the film I did. Telling the story of Bernard Fau's return to ICGP doesn't make a film, or else it's another film. There, it was more about how to grow old or not with a passion, how to be and have been. Whereas there, with access to the archives, I was able to revive the memories of Patrick (Pons), Rougerie or Tournadre. With the latter, people discovered a world champion. That was the interest of the thing and there are still other things to come out of it, but this time through what a modern pilot like Johann does. »
How do we finance such a project today?
“The French Motorcycling Federation is a partner that helps me. Yamaha will help me, since they will buy images from Dorna. And then, the INA will also help. But I think that, soon, if I want to get to the end, I will have to subscribe again like I did for my first film. In fact, the subscription would at least buy my DVD so that the income contributes to a film which can reach a wider audience than Continental enthusiasts. So I'm going to announce it soon on my site where you can still buy the old film but where the main page will be devoted to Zarco and the Continental Circus. »
Is that the title of the film?
" Yes. Zarco and the Continental. »
Does the idea enchant him?
“Yes, if he didn't want to, I wouldn't even be here. Laurent and Johann have confidence; we have already filmed before and after the first Grand Prix. »
Remember that filming is only possible outside of Grands Prix, due to the regulations put in place by Dorna…
“Yes, and then, in the Grands Prix, he will be quite in demand and that’s not necessarily what interests me. As long as I get the official images thanks to Yamaha, you would be interested in seeing him outside, with his school, with his kids, and for him to tell me with a minimum of perspective. When you're on a circuit, it's something else. It's never really the same person completely. »
That’s a great idea, well done!
“Okay, now we have to bring it to the end. We have to hope so, especially for him. »
How to translate Johann's metamorphosis? This year, we no longer recognize him: he appears serene, smiling, relaxed and seems to take pleasure in being around all those who support him...
“But because he’s a double world champion!” I told him before the start of the Grand Prix: “you know, in Qatar, there will be two reigning world champions on the grid. There will be Márquez and you. » He laughed but it's true. There are of course other riders who seem to be going fast, but they haven't done what Johann did in Moto2. They didn't have to deal with a second title, which is the hardest part. Trying to score points or get a podium or a victory is one thing. Managing a title and winning in these conditions, there aren't many who have done it. Basically, he had no complexes about the others and he showed that he was largely as strong as them in his head, because he did it. The others who have already done it are called Rossi, Márquez or Lorenzo. That's the big thing. Johann is exceptional, and, with Laurent, there are two of them,”
When will the film be released?
“It has to be finished before the start of the next season. This is the idea and the ideal. Afterwards, I don't have the means to control everything but I will make sure that. This film will be shorter than my previous one to be able to interest a television channel. »
How can we help?
“Everyone can help by purchasing my DVD “Once upon a time there was the Continental Circus” and the money will contribute to the film about Johann. »
Thank you Bernard!
