This Thursday, April 28, 2022, John Zarco answered questions from journalists from the Jerez – Ángel Nieto circuit ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.
For the first time this year, Johann zarco, who currently occupies fifth place in the championship, will be accompanied by Jean-Michel Bayle to help him during his race weekend.
As usual, we report here the words of John Zarco without the slightest formatting, even if it is partially translated (vouvoiement in English, tutoiement in French).
Johann zarco : " He should have come to Portimão, but then he had something to do urgently at home. We work together to improve my workout at home. I have to be ready when I arrive at the Grand Prix. But he will be there for a few races in Europe to give me that little something extra. But for this first race, it will also be an opportunity for him to get to know the team and get more involved in the races. But the work we do together is mainly aimed at improving training. It helps me and my trainer confirm if the physical training is good or if I can push harder. In recent years I've always done it alone, done my rounds and tried to find some exercises, but always by myself. Now we do different things, and it's good because he has a good eye and also knows what is difficult at a high level »
Do you ride together during training?
« No, we only did enduro once together, but more to be outside for three to four hours, to clear our heads and at the same time exercise our bodies. He still takes the bike off-road often just to remind me that he's the best. But he lets me do it on the asphalt (laughs). We are working on very specific things. If he was driving himself, he wouldn't be able to be as precise as he is off the track. The more we train together, the more useful he will be because he will get to know me better. »
“I can't say, like Jack or Pecco, 'Okay, we've got the basic setup right.' Because sometimes we are still surprised. But I hope that the good race in Portimão will help me immediately find a good rhythm here. It's not my best track, but with the great race in Portimão, maybe I'll take a step forward here too. »
Ducati remains on a double at the Spanish GP thanks to Miller and Bagnaia…
« If Fabio had finished the race, I think he would have been 2nd and 3rd but still on the podium. They felt better than I did last year. Now my feelings on the bike are improving, I am also using the front of the bike better. This can help me improve my performance here. I was good, but not that good, I was eighth. »
Can Fabio Quartararo be beaten at Jerez?
« Fabio's only weak point is the straight… and I don't think we will find any weakness here but I think we can perform because we had a good feeling in Portimão. In Portimão, he was quite angry and he took advantage of it to be very fast at the start of the race. Here he might be angry about what happened last year (laughs). Knowing him, I think that here, after the victory, he will feel good. But if I can repeat a podium, it would just be another dream, so I'll take it if I can. »
The Yamaha and Johann Zarco in Jerez…
« The Yamaha helps a little here because it's a small circuit and everything comes together well. For 4th place, I had pushed a lot at the start of the race, and no one had a tire left at the end of the race, so I was able to maintain the advantage from the start of the race until the end. I had just missed the podium because Lorenzo had overtaken me. And for second place, I was 5th and the three in front of me had fallen, so that served me well. »
