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.
Johann zarco : “I'm happy to start these three consecutive races in good shape. I didn't expect to have good energy like that, because I expected MotoGP to be exhausting motos and that I might be tired because we are almost towards the end. But ultimately, I'm managing well, I'm fresh, and I think it's very important to manage these three races well. We start with Japan. I think I like it, I've had good results there over the last few years, and it's a place I enjoy. So yes, let's take it easy, and see the weather as usual. I think we have a stable bike with the Yamaha, as well as a good and safe feeling with the front end of the Yamaha. These are important points for this circuit. »
What will your objective be?
“Rookie of the year is the main goal. I'm still focused on that and it's a shame that Jonas is feeling bad. But for the moment, I'm not thinking too much about this Rookie of the Year title. I have to finish the races, and I have to do them the same way as if Jonas were there. I think the problem right now is more about what Jonas has. It's pretty bad and he needs a very long rest. I'm more sad about this than happy to be the Rookie.
I stay focused. If I'm the Rookie, I would have achieved the main goal of the season, but it looks like I can stay sixth in the championship, which would be the first independent driver. And like I told someone else,
“why not fifth, if I have a fantastic end to the season? » It would really be like some kind of world title. I was thinking about it today “why not fifth in the championship? », I could enjoy this as if it were a world title. »
Is getting a good result here important for the other two races that follow?
“Either way, it’s important. I don't know if it's important to have a better pace for the next two races, but it's just important because when you race, you do it to get the best. I want to be good here because the last three races, I wasn't far from the leading guys. So all the races were pretty good, even if I struggled. I want to be able to struggle less. If I don't struggle too much, I can be with them, and that will be my goal. When I struggle and finish sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth, I'm more tired than when I finish in the top 5. I would like to be in the top five with more freshness at the end of the race. That would mean we had a good weekend. »
Speaking of MotoGP tests, how many days do you think a Rookie needs to get the hang of MotoGP?
“How many days does a Rookie need? Even without thinking that we are a Rookie, how many days does a pilot need? I think the tests that the factories do are perfect for the drivers. Whether they are Rookies or not. It would be good to keep this number of tests. Maybe if there were less it would be better for independent riders, but as a rider what the factories are doing is good. »
You had good results here in 125cc and Moto2. What do you anticipate in MotoGP?
“I have the advantage of having ridden with the Suzuki, so I at least have a vision of 300 km/h, a vision of acceleration in MotoGP on this circuit which, perhaps, can help me to learn rhythm faster. It's true that having the right rhythm or being immediately more competitive from Friday can then be useful for the rest of the weekend. But above all it's a circuit that I generally like with its asphalt. Last year, I had a good time in Moto2 and I said to myself that, why not, maybe I can also achieve a good performance in MotoGP. Given that it is big, in terms of acceleration, it makes you go quickly, but it doesn't have the same effect as in Misano where everything will happen very quickly. Misano, it accelerates, but the track is still very small. There, we brake and accelerate, but we have space and width, and that gives me confidence. »
You say you're happy to be in good shape. Compared to last year, how did you train this year to tackle these three races?
“For training, I let the coach do it. Already, in 2016, we were on a MotoGP outlook, and we had strengthened ourselves a little more muscularly. I see that with physical training, my heart has evolved. MotoGP forced me and on an average race, I took 10 beats. The fact of having taken 10 pulses on a running average, training on a bike, running, an athletics track or on a squash court, I get into areas where I can hold then that before, I was no longer lucid and I had to stop. So the body has evolved but there are not really specific things. Everything evolves at the same time, always with good reinforcement at the top to be solid, but not too much either because it's still a bike and you still need a lot of finesse. So how did I manage? I let it happen and I'm happy, because that means we did well. And there, before the tour, I like this little change, already since I returned from Aragon: went to bed early, got up early, went to bed early, got up early. At first it was difficult, but then I managed to fall asleep around 20 p.m. and get up easily around three or four in the morning. There, I see that I am already well. At four in the morning, what do we do? Laundry, and at 6:30 a.m., meet the coach to go running. This, as soon as we return from Aragon. I've been doing it for two years already, and I see that, out of a seven hour difference, I already gain almost four. My job is to adapt. I would eat dinner at 16 p.m., then go to bed, and even if I didn't fall asleep right away, at least I was inactive after 17 p.m. I fell asleep before 20 p.m. For waking up, it was first five o'clock, then four o'clock and I had two evenings at three o'clock in the morning. »
It's not an easy job...
“Finally, on Saturday, I told my friends “if you are torn, I will bring you back: I will be fresh! » (laughs). »
