It was in twelfth row that Johann Zarco brought the only official KTM which saw the finish in this Austrian Grand Prix. That of Pol Espargaró had been left on the side of the track due to a technical problem. However, the Frenchman did not take the checkered flag at the Red Bull Ring as the best representative of the Mattighofen manufacturer who was playing at home. This honor went to Miguel Oliveira, eighth on the satellite RC16 of the Tech3 team. But more is needed to disappoint the double Moto2 World Champion…
Johann zarco is no longer in a top 10 which is his objective for this second part of the season. But again, that’s not what’s going to make him brood in the orange box. He comments: “ I got off to a good start, which is important,” declared the Frenchman. “My running was consistent, even if there was always a lack of speed. However, I was confident that I could join the top 10 group because I wasn't far away. But in the end I was too slow and they got further and further away, so I finally crossed the finish line in twelfth place ».
Nevertheless, the race record of zarco is evaluated as positive: “ It was a good Sunday for me and a good end to the two consecutive races we have completed. It was an intense few days, physically and mentally exhausting ».
The sixteen-time Grand Prix winner and Moto2 world champion in 2015 and 2016 commented on his own progress: “ I control my motorcycle and I no longer fall. Of course, it is very positive to be able to try something without causing a crash. But we still lack speed at the moment ».
The fact that the pilot Tech3-KTM can start to place ahead of him as the thirteenth qualifier and eighth in the race is a positive sign for zarco : " Miguel had a good race and it was a fantastic weekend for KTM. This proves that it's perfectly possible to adapt, and that's exactly what I'll be looking at for Silverstone ”.
MotoGP Austria Red Bull Ring J3: standings
