On the occasion of this Argentine Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo, we are perpetuating our habit of referring to you in full the words of Johann Zarco, in a raw way, therefore without any 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").
There is always the little detail that immerses us more every day in the world of MotoGP…
Johann zarco : " It is complicated. I think we didn't find the right direction to work in during FP2 and that therefore makes the situation more difficult. I feel lucky to still be in the top 10 because if it rains tomorrow it still matters. And I think what I want is the improvement to fight for the podium and the victory. This is why it is sometimes complicated to put your finger on it, then to work. Certainly, the conditions didn't help but when I see what Marc did at the end of the session, it really means that we can use the track well, and it makes me confident that it's not a matter of just a few things to find with the team, then the speed will come. »
Have the weather conditions made it more difficult to find a good setup for tomorrow and the rest of the weekend?
" Yes it's possible. Like I said, being in the top 10 is the most important thing if it rains tomorrow. Maybe Sunday will be a question mark for us. If this is dry, I think we can find the right setup. »
Compared to last year, the circuit has evolved a little and so has your bike. Can you use some settings from last year?
“I don't look too much at the settings from last year because my riding style has changed, and I'm riding in a different way than a year ago when I really had little experience. We therefore use more of our data from the last race and the last tests. This is the bike I love. For tires, out of the 4 available, there are 3 whose construction we know, and only one that we have not tried. Just in case, it might be good to try it, but we don't think we'll find the solution with this eraser. »
Do the drivers enjoy this Grand Prix, because of the track, the fans and its atmosphere?
“Yes, I think the pilots can appreciate it. Above all, I appreciate it because it's a track that I love. I have very good memories there, in MotoGP and also in Moto2. And yes, there are so many fans here: you can feel that Argentina loves motorcycling, and for the riders it's a great feeling. »
You say you took a wrong turn this afternoon. If it's dry tomorrow morning, will you go back to your settings from this morning?
" I don't know. For technical things, I let my team do it. We will see. »
In French... You seemed fast in the first 2 partials, then you lost again in the rest...
“I haven’t analyzed all that yet. It's a global feeling. I have no explanation. The wind bothered me a little but not too much. It's more on the traction side: I lose too many meters when I accelerate. »
