On Thursday September 24, Johann Zarco answered questions from journalists from Barcelona as a prelude to the Catalan Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French pilot.
As usual, we report here the words of Johann zarco without the slightest formatting, even if the first part is translated from English (vouvoiement).
Johann zarco : " Everything is going well after these two consecutive races in Misano. On the way to Barcelona I was able to stop at the house and spend two nights there, which was good. Now I'm here and I really expect a better result because the work we did for two weeks in Misano was good but hasn't paid off in the race yet, and that's a bit of a shame. So I hope I can take a step forward here because it's a place where I've been able to perform well on many occasions. There are also fewer sharp corners, which suits my riding style better, so I'm really hoping to take a good step forward here in Barcelona, starting with positive momentum and going all the way. Why not do something great? »
Do you think you still have a chance of getting the official Ducati?
« If I win, yes (laughs)! Why not ? But anyway, I would have a factory bike next year in both cases: only the color changes and different things too. We will see. We'll see what we can do here since, as they said, they want to wait three races. Clearly what I did in Misano compared to Pecco is not enough because he did the job well to get the Factory bike. We'll see, but I don't think too much about it. »
The health situation seems to be getting worse. Do you think the championship will be able to come to an end?
« It will be a problem, but I'm a little against it: I hate all the rules we have. If we have to stop racing, it will be shit. We are manipulated (laughs). »
Is your bike the same as Tito Rabat’s?
« With Tito we started with the same bike, then after a few tests after Jerez, Ducati was able to help me with different things. Then, in Misano, I had really different things, so yes, I can't say that I have the same bike as Tito. It was the same at the beginning and then in Gigi's mind, if a driver really deserves good things, he tries to help him during the season by giving him a little more. So I don't have the same bike, and I even had more upgrades than what was planned for this season. »
Do you already know what Ducati's decision is regarding your future?
« No, no, I don't know. I think that even I will know after Catalonia how things will go. »
How's your wrist?
« Not bad ! It’s progressing well! Afterwards, we have to see the evolution but I think that for the small ligament which remains annoying, and which could be annoying for a very long time, it will be necessary to do a small infiltration next week, to be able to better follow the three weeks which will follow , with Le Mans and the two Aragóns. But I don't sense any major weaknesses on that side. »
Does the succession of consecutive Grands Prix have an impact on your physical form, or do you recover each time in two days?
« No, it's fine. It's even an interesting rhythm compared to the time lost and the sensations that I had to rediscover: This calendar came at a good time! »
Did you drive here with the Panigale?
« Yes, and compared to the entire VR46 team, we will say that I have a little more home advantage. »
