This Sprint race in Austin this Saturday was yet another missed opportunity for Johann Zarco who had started well and was in the good group before regularly slipping in the ranking, out of the points zone. Unfortunate, because he cannot blame a Ducati which once again confirmed all its potential in Texas. Moreover, the Frenchman does not do it, taking total responsibility for what must be called a failure on a track which would push him back, according to him. After qualifying, he also mentioned real fatigue and a sore arm. He has this Sunday to come out of this Grand Prix of the Americas with a good result which would allow him to keep his place on the provisional championship podium.
We expected a lot of Johann zarco in this race Sprint, but the tricolor showed once again that it is a master in the art of experiencing ups and downs. The top will have been this Saturday an outing at the head of the Q1 and a good start during the afternoon competition. But the bottom followed with each satisfaction with a Q2 anonymous and a continuation of Sprint spent seeing the leading men desperately move away and feeling the rest of the peloton getting dangerously closer, a good part of which swallowed him up.
At the microphone of Canal+, he recounted his journey thus, without making excuses: « I made several mistakes, it was very hard to keep up the pace in front » begins the double Moto2 World Champion. “II said to myself “I’m in the perfect position”. Jorge Martín started strong, I saw that he was attacking me, so I said to myself “stay behind, he will have great pace”, but I lacked speed ».
He analyses : « I'm not quite sure of the bike yet to be able to swing it from one side to the other like the others do, and as a result, with the heat in the race, it was hard to hold on and the mistakes each time made me lose positions. The bike also remained low on the last two laps. As a result, I lost even more time: to do with the lowerer, I was not able to engage it ».
John Zarco:
« for the moment, we can't get it and as a result, I'm in more pain than pleasure »
« It was a bit strange because, yes, I wanted to fight at least for 7th or 8th place with Oliveira. I think it was in my hand, it was possible, but I made mistakes, especially when braking on 12. I missed the rope several times, and there we quickly lost positions. So, it's a shame not to score any points, but the start was really good and that's positive. I was simply very focused. this track, it seems like it repels me, because I couldn't have the speed of others » regrets the Pramac driver, whose teammate, Jorge Martín, finished the race third, taking revenge for a performance that had until then been close to disaster, notably with two motorcycles destroyed.
So where to find the responsibilities at John Zarco ? He answers clearly: “OWe know she rides the bike! That being said, I have my different style which means that it doesn't work like the others, and it's very frustrating because there is a way to do it well, but, for the moment, we're not getting the hang of it and as a result, I'm in more pain than pleasure. And this track, I tell you, it's out of category because there's really something that doesn't "match" ».
Now, we have to think carefully about what comes next, and it remains marked by doubt… “ We will see on Sunday how to approach the long race, and also the temperatures, if it helps if they are a little less hot, because suddenly the bike could behave a little better. It was very delicate. I expected a much better race, especially being 5th and gaining four places! But here I am telling you: I didn't have a pace below 2'04 today. It will always be around 2'04. We have to see how many drivers are able to keep the 2'03, and maybe there will be a better feeling ". And he ends, almost relying on the grace of God: « the days follow one another but are not the same. Suddenly there is the possibility of having better sensations ».
MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas SPRINT results at Circuit of the Americas in Austin:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
