A new season, a new helmet with new messages, but the same fighting spirit and resilience that remains unfailing, this is how Johann Zarco will approach this 2020 MotoGP season. The Frenchman is, so to speak, a miracle after fifteen months spent riding three different motorcycles. Getting off a Yamaha, he actually jumped on an official KTM before doing three stints on a Honda. Here he is now promised to a Ducati which will therefore be his fourth machine in a record period. How is the Frenchman approaching this new Desmosedici challenge, even in the 2019 version? Serenely he said…
The return of MotoGP is for January 7 on the track of Sepang. The latter was heated a few days ago with a “ shakedown » which whet our appetite. Today, Thursday, quite a few teams will show up. Then it will be the three-day IRTA test.
To Johann zarco, it will be the baptism of fire. A Ducati that he has never driven, an Avintia team that he does not know… We will have to start from a blank sheet. But the double Moto2 World Champion is not stressing. On the contrary, because he knows he has come a long way! “ I had problems last year, it was a risk to take this difficult decision. Finally, after the last Grand Prix, contact was made with Ducati. I am so happy to have this opportunity. »
« I think my equipment will be good enough for me to return to the top positions and regain my high level of driving ", added zarco on “motogp.com”. “ I'm just happy and can't wait until Friday. » Which will be the first day of the IRTA test in Malaysia.
Johann has not ridden a MotoGP since November 17. How does he envisage his return? “ The first thing is to get used to the bike. After the long winter break, you still have to go step by step because you drive quite fast at over 300 km/h. I don't want to rush anything, just get to know the bike in a good method. I have the experience, I know I can relax and not be stressed,” Zarco said calmly. “After three days it will be physically demanding in the heat, but it would be good to be in the top 10, top 7. If I can ride at this pace, it would be very positive for the season »
He ends by recalling the new message that appears on his headset: “ a new chapter begins, I now have to be better than a suicide bomber to continue living my dream », announced the Frenchman on Instagram when he presented his helmet Shark freshly painted, dedicated to the “spirit chakra”: “ the basis are the colors of the seven chakras ».
According to Indian teaching, these are the centers of spiritual power in the human body: seven major energy centers form the seven main chakras. “ I think it's good and I want to push the mental side even further because there seems to be no limit ", added zarco.
