Jacky always carefully scrutinizes the performances of all drivers in all categories, and has long maintained close and in-depth links with most of the technicians in the paddock.
We called on his experience and his sense of observation to take stock of the Grand Prix and Superbike World Championships. Today here is the first part concerning the GPs.
Do you think there was a single person on earth who predicted Fabio Quartararo's meteoric progression, including Fabio himself?
“No, I think everyone was completely surprised. I don't think there's anyone today who can say they expected it. He showed very good things during his last year in Moto2 at Speed Up, winning two Grands Prix, even if he was downgraded from Motegi. He also finished second in a very good race at Assen. But we couldn't imagine that he was going to make such a splash in MotoGP, that's obvious. It was a very nice surprise. »
Johann Zarco's season seemed complicated, with a failure at KTM, a good rescue at Honda, a refusal to be a test rider at Yamaha, and finally a contract with Ducati to go to Avintia with a Desmosedici 2019. What do you think? inspires such complexity?
« zarco was very uncomfortable with this KTM which did not suit him at all. From the start of the season, he had only one obsession: finding a solution to stop. It totally undermined him. He was in trouble too quickly with this bike. You only had to see his face on TV to realize how bad he was. »
“At one point, in Austria, he went to see the bosses at KTM to tell them that he could not continue. We then felt much more relieved, so much so that I thought he was going to have a good end to the season with this bike despite everything, given that he was freed from the weight he had on the stomach. »
“Unfortunately in England he fell while taking with him Olive tree, while he was making an interesting comeback. Afterwards everything got worse and KTM preferred to stop with him. »
“He had this offer from Yamaha which was interesting because he was entering a factory structured to develop motorcycles. But what interests him is racing, and there he would only have had one or two wildcards, at best. I think that discouraged him a little. »
“He absolutely wanted to race and the opportunity presented itself with Lucio Cecchinello in one of the friendliest teams in the paddock. We imagined that Lorenzo was going to leave, and I then saw Nakagami joining Marc Márquez within the factory team. We talked about it a lot and then the rabbit came out of the hat, and Alex Marquez took the place. »
“As a result, Zarco found himself on foot, and then in Valencia there was a very long discussion with those in charge of Ducati (Gigi Dall'Igna first) to go to Avintia, a proposal that Johann had previously refused. The confirmation that Ducati would provide him with personnel and monitoring of his bike made him change his mind. As he said himself, he signs more with Ducati than with Avintia. »
“To conclude, yes it was complex, we had rarely seen that, but Zarco is a whole boy, an honest boy. At one point he felt unwell, and he looked for an opportunity to continue and, above all, stay in MotoGP.”
In what way did the arrival ofAlex Marquez within the official Honda team with her brother Marc in MotoGP will she change things? There is usually no rookie in the HRC team.
“If we look back at history, last year we wondered what was going to happen in this team with two great champions like Marquez and Lorenzo. And then we saw! »
“Álex Márquez is a driver who takes longer to come to fruition, and it therefore seems difficult to envisage that he can compete with the best in his first season. It's going to be a big learning year for him. But there can also be a surprise, a revelation…”
…as El Diablo would say…
“And after all, who knows? We no longer know, with this MotoGP category! He is here now with his brother. I think this will perhaps animate the anger of Crutchlow who clearly saw the place for him (laugh). »
“Marc will continue to dominate this category outrageously and Álex will learn from his brother little by little. Obviously he still has real pressure because he is in the HRC factory team. It would have been better if he had been with Lucio Cecchinello to learn a little more quietly, if I may say so. Álex is a serious, hard-working boy, and also particularly friendly. We can wish him the best. »
On what other bike than the Honda could Marc Márquez have been World Champion this year?
“I think with any bike he would at least be on the podium. The Aprilia is a less competitive, less homogeneous bike, which would certainly give it more difficulty. But he is so talented and so capable of seeking resources with the machine he is currently piloting that he demonstrates incredible potential. For me, he would be able to put any bike on the podium. »
How could a team like SIC (Sepang International Circuit) have such a brilliant first year in MotoGP, with a rookie rider like Fabio Quartararo and without factory bikes?
“It was surprising to see him on a bike slightly less efficient than the official ones achieve what he did. The pilot is incredibly talented. The team has managed to do so well because it is made up of extremely efficient and competent people, like Diego (Gubellini) its chief mechanic. Fabio was lucky enough to come across Diego who is a very competent guy, very calm, very composed, and there is fantastic osmosis between the two. »
“There is a team of good technicians around them like Wilco Zeelenberg and Johan Stigefelt. They dug into existing teams or at the end of their contract like VDS to recover excellent elements. Everything fell into place. This is the key to success. »
Photos © motogp.com / Dorna, Christian Bourget for Paddock-GP.com
