On this Thursday, June 24, 2021, John Zarco answered questions from journalists from the TT Circuit Assen, as a prelude to the Dutch Grand Prix, alongside fabio quartararo, Jack Miller, Miguel Oliveira, Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver, currently second in the championship and now 22 points behind fabio quartararo.
As usual, we report here the words of John Zarco without the slightest formatting, even if the first part (vouvoiement) is translated from English.
Johann, after a positive start to the weekend, it was harder on Sunday at the Sachsenring. We are sure you are looking forward to riding here in Assen, before the summer break…
Johann zarco : " I hope, because it will be necessary for the championship, before the summer break. It would be nice to score a good result here. As I always say, the Ducati has huge potential and I think it now has the potential to be on the podium everywhere this season. Clearly I missed something at the Sachsenring but the weekend was quite interesting, and during the first half of the race I was also very happy to see a lot. So I hope these things will be useful during this weekend and make me strong enough to fight with Fabio who I think will be one of the best. And if I can be fast enough, I think I'll have fun. »
After this Grand Prix, there is a five-week break. Do you need this station wagon to recharge the batteries?
« For my part, I think I could continue because I like it when the Grands Prix follow one another. I don't feel that I really need a break but I will take it as it comes, as a good thing, because maybe I don't feel the need for it but the body needs it. Five weeks will be a long time and that is why it will be necessary to have fun during the break, then to train well in order to be ready for the second half which will begin with the two races in a row at Spielberg, this which is good for Ducati. So you'll have to live day by day, which is pretty easy for me, and I think I'll enjoy it. But otherwise, the body could continue because the results are good and you are happy when it goes like that. »
In the past, this circuit has not been favorable to Ducati. Do you know why and what do you think will happen this year?
« I think it's quite difficult because there are some pretty tight corners here and high speed changes of direction, like passage 6/7 and the last change of direction before the chicane. But clearly we see this season that we can count on the podium even on tracks that are complicated for Ducati, or at least complicated on paper. The Sachsenring was one of them: We weren't on the podium but we weren't that far away, and for my part I really had some problems with something that made me lose a lot of time. But the performance was there and the pole position was great. This is why this weekend we cannot take to the track thinking that it will be too difficult. »
You know the Yamaha and the Ducati. Do you think Valentino Rossi could be faster on the Ducati than he is currently on the Yamaha?
« Interesting question (laughs)! I think Ducati is progressing a lot, and if, like last year, we have eight bikes, it can really become the best bike in the category, with a lot of riders who can adapt well and be fast. For sure, if he races next year, he will be faster in a straight line: There is no doubt! I think that if he races next year, he will have motivation again and the pleasure of riding on each circuit with a new feeling. And with this new feeling, if he stays, I think he would do better than this year. I think Ducati can bring that, but the real question is whether he will stay or not. »
Social media question: Is there a particular sport or athlete that you will be following during the Tokyo Olympics?
« For the spectacle, the 100m is always beautiful to see because it is very famous. He will no longer participate in the Olympics because he has already done them before, but I am and I speak a lot with Renaud Lavillenie who is a pole vaulter, and it is very interesting. I've never tried it but maybe I'll have a chance. It's very technical, so if there's anything, it would be this. »
Photo credit: MotoGP.com
