The divorce by mutual consent between KTM and Johann Zarco was like a shock wave in a paddock more accustomed to watered-down official versions than frank explanations between four eyes. But Johann Zarco is not the type to pretend. In the KTM clan there is another Frenchman who followed the events regarding a rider he knows very well. And for good reason: these last two years, he was his… Hervé Poncharal therefore gives his informed opinion.
The team leader Tech3 is Hervé Poncharal and he was the one who bet on zarco in MotoGP when he worked with Yamaha. Two positive years were spent together before the duo signed for KTM, but for different adventures. At the media microphone Trademarks, Hervé Poncharal gives his feelings about what is happening to his 29-year-old compatriot:
« Everyone thought he would have fought more with Espargaró, since they are drivers of similar level. But we don't understand why it doesn't get the expected results. It's complicated to understand the reason, given that KTM is doing an incredible job and we see it with Oliveira. We have rapid developments and the bike is making real progress ».
The French manager believes that Johann should not have given up so quickly and that he could now struggle to find a fallback solution in MotoGP for 2020: “ he probably didn't adapt and he felt he had tried enough. We'll see what happens in the future, but it was a shock to see him with so many problems. He still had a year and a half of contract, so he had time to try, time to improve and get closer to Pol. However, KTM managers respect him. I just want him to be happy and he wasn't happy with KTM. But in my opinion, he will have difficulty finding another possibility in another team ».
