Johann Zarco attacked the 2018 season at the highest level, taking the first pole position of the year, and leading almost the entire race, before falling back in the last five laps to eighth place due to a tire problem. Present at the French Grand Prix presentation conference, he returned to the Grand Prix and its objectives.
From Thursday at the press conference, Marc Márquez and Andrea Dovizioso were clear: for them Johann is one of the contenders for the title. A pressure which affected the start of the Frenchman's weekend, as he admitted: “Consciously or not, I thought about it, and it didn't put me in the right frame of mind on Friday because I wanted to be in front but I didn't have the right feelings and I got annoyed. Fortunately everything was back to normal on Saturday. »
A lot of rumors also circulated throughout the weekend regarding his future, and possible proposals received from certain teams. Johann is however clear that none of this affected him in Qatar: “Laurent Fellon insulates me from that and I trust him. I didn't focus on it so it didn't play a part at all in the pressure I felt. »
Obviously the weekend event was the fabulous pole position he won on Saturday afternoon and which earned him his share of emotions: “It was an emotional lift! When I crossed the line, I saw on a big board on the right that I was first so I let out a cry of joy under the helmet. But immediately afterwards I looked at the big tower of Qatar and there I saw that my name was only in seventh position with Dovizioso on pole. I was very disappointed, before realizing that the tower was a good ten seconds late! »
Leading almost throughout the race, Johann was then overtaken by seven opponents in the last five laps, suggesting that the strategy may not have been the right one, something he refutes: “If the situation happened again, I would do the same thing because the strategy was good. Everything was under control, so much so that at one point I found myself waiting for someone to overtake me and telling myself that if no one did, it was because I was going fast. Personally I find that riding behind someone makes us insist more because we try to see where and how to overtake, whereas by being in the lead you can set your own pace and make your own trajectories. Maybe that’s what allowed me to hold on for so long. »
Concerning the post-Grand Prix, the Frenchman admitted not having visualized the race lack of time. Generally speaking, his approach once the race weekend is over depends on his feeling: “I will more easily look back on a good result and watch the race as a spectator. On the other hand, if it didn't go well it will annoy me more, even if of course the analysis is important. It really depends on the feeling after the race and our analysis of Sunday. If you still have doubts it's worth watching the race, otherwise it's better to let go for a few days to get back to training better. »
A workout that will punctuate his days from here the Argentine Grand Prix which will take place on April 8. Three weeks of break to start again: “I am going to Argentina with victory as my goal. I will give everything on Friday and Saturday and then I will analyze whether I can be in the game on Sunday or not. If yes, that's very good and if not, I'll see which place to aim for to bring back points. »
This victory is certainly the notable change in Johann between 2017 and 2018: “I have the same ambition as a year ago, but the difference is that it is becoming a reality. Last year I was already thinking about winning, which is still the case this year but now I'm not the only one thinking about it. The other drivers also see me as a potential winner and that's a real change. »
