MotoGP Germany J3 Debriefing Johann Zarco (Ducati/2): “My level is rising and I am more and more competitive”, etc. (Entirety)

This Sunday June 19, 2022, Johann zarco answered questions from journalists from the Sachsenring circuit at the end of the German Grand Prix.

By finishing 2nd, the French rider took 3rd place in the MotoGP world championship in a summer break event.

As usual, we report here the words of Johann zarco without the slightest formatting, even if it is partially translated (vouvoiement in English, tutoiement in French).

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Second in the race, third in the championship, it was a good day for you Johann! Your first impressions after the race?
Johann zarco : " A very good day ! Starting from third place was an advantage and I was focused on really getting a good start. I knew it was necessary to be strong during the first two laps to have a good position. We knew that Fabio and Pecco could have a better pace and from the first lap I could see that they were a little faster. I was behind Aleix and I didn't want to lose this opportunity. I was able to overtake Aleix and that was also important for the podium. After Pecco crashed, I was second, a second behind Fabio, and I really did my best to follow him and try to catch him because I knew he had the medium rear tire. I had the hard one, so maybe I could have an advantage, but after halfway the grip on the side was already difficult for me to manage, while Fabio was very, very consistent. So I lost time on him, but trying to follow him I created a very big gap on third place, and the last three laps were like a nightmare because it was very difficult to control the bike and physically the heat was very demanding. But I was able to cope with this since five seconds was enough to control. »

You made an incredible overtake on Aleix Espargaró at turn 11…
“Yes (laughs), it made me happy that I could do it there. As I said, I didn't want to lose the opportunity to follow Fabio and Pecco, and I had good traction in these turns 10 and 11, especially with the new tire, so I tried to take advantage of that moment when I had a little better acceleration in the change of direction. But I couldn't immediately lean the bike into turn 11, just to stay safe, because I didn't want to lose the front using a tight line. Aleix tried to resist on the outside, but being on the inside line I simply had to open the throttle a little more to take the advantage. And from there I knew I could try to follow the first two. »

 

Does seeing two Ducatis on the podium of a circuit that was known to be difficult for them give you confidence for Assen next week?
« Last year it was also kind of a good race at Assen. Pecco was strong but received a Long Lap penalty because he cut the last chicane. So now the Ducati can work anywhere because it's a bike that has a lot of potential, but sometimes using that potential is demanding. I'm happy that my level is rising and I'm more and more competitive, and I hope it will be the same there, but being a little looser to enjoy even more. »

There is an army of Ducatis but, at mid-season, the championship is led by Yamaha and Aprilia. You are third on a Ducati. Do you think it is now time for Ducati to support you in the title race, or even to give team instructions like in Formula 1?
« There is no more support to get from Ducati because in my position, and this is the very good thing about Ducati, when you start the season, and even more so in the Pramac team, you have total support like a factory driver. Its very important. We are all lucky to be ahead in the championship and at the moment I am the one who is third because I have been consistent in the last four races of the championship. The motorcycle will always be maintained as best as possible. There are eight of us Ducatis on the track: this helps the riders who compare themselves with each other and try to progress, and it also helps Ducati to collect good data from the eight riders to give good material to everyone. So there will be no additional support because I am third, since the support is already total. We have a Yamaha and an Aprilia in first and second place: the Yamaha is Fabio and he is in an incredible period where he is very, very strong because he controls everything perfectly, and at Aprilia the surprise is Aleix for whom everything is working perfectly this year, and he is also well concentrated and regular. At Ducati, we have very high potential but we encountered some problems with the 2022 bike: it's as if we had potential higher, but more difficult to achieve. When you achieve it, you make lap records and you can win races, so I hope to do that very soon. »

What is your ambition for the second part of the season?
« No more than now. Give your best every weekend because the level is very high and it is very difficult to be on the podium. Last year I was in a very good situation and at the same time I think I was even second in the championship. This year I didn't start as well and I had two crashes this season, so I'm third at the moment. I'm the first to be happy about it but that doesn't change the strategy. I repeat: I know the potential of the bike, I know I can do it, but it's quite difficult, so you always have to completely recover the energy every time to put it into the race weekends. »

This weekend, Maverick Viñales and Alex Márquez experienced a problem with their height ride device. Has this ever happened to you?
“No, I don't remember having a problem with that, so (laughs) I'm crossing my fingers that Ducati has a good handle on that. But no, fortunately not. »

 

Results of the MotoGP German Grand Prix at Sachsenring:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com