On Thursday August 6, Johann Zarco answered questions from journalists from Brno as a prelude to the Czech Republic Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the comments of the French driver who currently occupies 9st place in the world championship.
As usual, we report here the words of Johann zarco without the slightest formatting.
Johann zarco : " Brno is a beautiful circuit that I have liked for several years. There were some great fights and a great victory in Moto2 in 2015. In MotoGP, there were some interesting things but nothing more, because the results were better in Moto2. If ! Last year, there was the first line which was always good to take, and it's a good memory. »
“The analysis at home, a week after the Spanish Grand Prix, is that the more we can analyze with the team, the more we realize that it is small things that can do a lot. There's not much missing to be with the right group and play with the top drivers. But this “not much” is not the easiest thing to take either. That's a certain trigger to have as a driver in the confidence area. But it’s coming and it’s going to come! »
« So I'm rather motivated and eager to go to the track, because Brno is completely different from Jerez and we will already have this advantage of the bike: with the width and the long straights, we will be able to exert our power. And then there are all the Ducati data from previous years, and I remember a really solid race in 2018 from Dovizioso and Lorenzo, which I like to take as an example. »
We saw some nice photos of you training in Alès with your Panigale. Particularly sliding when entering turns. Dovizioso said that this was what we had to work on with the new Michelins to better register the bike. Are you working on this specifically?
« Yes, there is that too, being able to slide the motorcycle, and above all being able to lay it down, already put the angle while braking, in areas where perhaps my vision is not yet used to putting of the angle at a certain point on the track when braking. This is what Márquez does very well, and other riders at the front too, and we see that this is what is missing with the other Ducati riders. During training with the Panigale, we can't say that we do the same thing, but yes, I had fun going in that direction. Especially since it was very hot the week I was at home and it was even almost too hot during training with the Panigale: the tires didn't grip much and, with 40° in the air and probably more than 50° on the track, it would really have been necessary to have special equipment for this heat. Let's say that I know how to do it, but that you have to know how to do it automatically to have your mind freed for other phases. »
You told us that your goal for the Andalusian Grand Prix in Jerez was the top 10, and you achieved it. On a circuit that is a priori a little more favorable to Ducatis, can we automatically raise the lens or not?
« Ideally, yes, but afterwards, reconfirming a top 10 would already be a good thing, because I also benefited from several withdrawals. If there were crashes and mistakes, that means the race was difficult anyway. But my goal is already to qualify better. I already knew how to get into Q2, but since I have a little more time to adapt to the bike than expected, there are times when skipping Q2 is a little complicated. And there, you have to be there, that way I have a little more chance of starting in the first nine, the first three rows, which is really effective for getting a better rhythm over the first five laps, and from there, be in the right group and go with them. So we'll see, there may be some triggers tomorrow, and that's all the good I can wish for myself. But to be reasonable, I can't say that I am now aiming for the top 5 because I finished 9th in Jerez. This would be out of place compared to the climb I am aiming for. But if it is possible, it is clear that we must not let it pass. »
“In any case, the objective is also to succeed in beating the other Ducati, always to deserve your place for next year. This is one of the objectives, but we see that the others are starting to get used to their bike, and to manage it well. Bagnaia had a fantastic race in Jerez! Unfortunately, he had a mechanical problem but he was in really good shape in Jerez and he made a big step from one race to the next. So this is a sign that there are things the pilot can do better. »
Did you work on anything specific physically between these two Grands Prix?
« Non. Nothing specific. There was cycling, but with a lot of heat. It was nice to go on some nice bike rides but we suffered quite a bit from the heat. Also running, which allows you to get a good physical workout in less than an hour. But nothing specific, except that I slashed a 6 liter Methuselah to celebrate my 30th birthday (laughs). »
