Johann Zarco made his return to MotoGP after three Grands Prix spent at home due to the end of his service with KTM. On a Honda LCR which is the 2018 version of the RC213V, the Frenchman did not do so badly. Never before had he ridden on an HRC motorcycle. 13e in the morning in the rain, it's 15e that he ended the day on Friday in the dry at Phillip Island. Which isn't so bad.
Johann zarco finishes his first Australian Grand Prix on a Honda just over 1s6 behind the leader Casa Particular in Viñales while ahead of all the KTMs and Jorge Lorenzo, teammate of Marc Marquez, relegated to 0,265s. A start at Phillip Island this Friday that can be described as encouraging: “ in the morning rain it was not easy to discover the new bike for me » begins the Frenchman. “ But on wet roads you ride slower, so everything is slower, you have more time to get used to the bike “, declared the Frenchman, aged 29. “ It was very cold and I was a little apprehensive, but I wasn't very slow, it was positivef. »
In the afternoon of the 2nd session, the replacement of Nakagami had a new experience, since on a dry track: “ we had good conditions to get used to the bike and to gather important information. It was not easy. I had to gradually gain confidence. This track is very fast, you really have to have confidence in the bike. At the start, I wasn't going very fast compared to my opponents. But over time, I got a little better. »
« At the beginning I was so late that in the end, after 45 minutes, it was not enough for the top ten. But I could test the tires, I improved my pace. It will be difficult this weekend to find new limits and bring myself back to a high level of performance. But that's the challenge » adds the double Moto2 World Champion.
What are the objectives of zarco for these three races with the LCR? The one who dominated his teammate Cal Crutchlow when FP1 answers : " I would like to have confidence in the bike, I would like to find new confidence. And then I want to get back to my old form. Because I can be a good rider and move a motorcycle quickly. But it will still take time for me to get back to my best level. »
FP2 standings for the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
