During his debriefing after the Argentine Grand Prix, Johann Zarco recounted his race, from his scare at the start because of Jorge Lorenzo, to the particularly exhausting last laps on a KTM lacking grip (See here).
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“It's difficult to experience these kinds of races where everything I would like to do with my riding is impossible at the moment, and that's why I'm struggling with the bike and why I'm exhausted. All the moves I learned to do in the past don't work. So it's not a specific thing to work on, but an overall feeling. But I can’t understand it right now and I have to accept it.”
“Later we will have new things on the bike to work on. But it's an experience, I want to take it in the most positive way possible and keep a very high motivation and a great pleasure in working, because everything I experience now will really make me stronger in the future. I just see it like that.”
But he also addressed the issue presented to KTM decision-makers, namely developing the RC16 in one or more directions. On this subject, the French driver is categorical: he will not try to imitate the driving style of his teammate Pol Espargaró!
“I can study and analyze his data, it's definitely quite different, and I'm methodical enough to understand what he's doing on the bike. But I don't want to copy that because, for me, it won't be the key to then taking the big step that will be necessary for the future. So, I want to keep my style smooth and clean, and see where we improve.”
“KTM is fully with us, Pol and me. They don't think we have to follow one direction or another. They are just now taking information, and it is very good that Miguel is also very competitive and almost beats the factory riders, since he beat me but not Pol.”
The KTM RC16 is distinguished above all by its tubular frame and WP suspensions, instead of the usual frames machined from aluminum and Öhlins suspensions. The latter are not a problem for the double world champion.
“I really think the WP suspension is good. In Moto2, I remember that I had a good feeling. We improved a lot and became, with WP and Kalex, one of the strongest drivers, and one of the strongest teams. I had a good time at that time. Now we are building, so I hope for this good period for later.”
