It's always live on the airEurosport, but this time just before the start of the Spanish Grand Prix, Laurent Fellon developed his slightly accusatory remarks made the day before against Valentino Rossi (See here).
These had also elicited a response from the person concerned himself (see here) and perhaps this is why Johann Zarco's friend, associate and personal manager wanted to explain himself better.
Despite a small dig at certain Eurosport speakers, the speech is therefore more positive, with two important statements to remember: Valentino Rossi is right to do what he does, and Johann Zarco will be world champion with KTM!
We of course only ask to believe it, but beyond that, we understand better how the decision to sign with KTM was made (at the end of last year), the places at Yamaha having already been reserved, the pride preventing him from returning to Suzuki, and not wanting to play second fiddle at Honda.
Eurosport: We would like to know what was the trigger that pushed Johann Zarco to sign with KTM?
“At the end of the year, he was first Rookie on a Yamaha. We were waiting for Yamaha to come see us and we waited a while. No one came to see us. This means that there was no interest in driver Johann Zarco. Afterwards, the signatures were made. Vinales signed with Yamaha just in Qatar. Afterwards, it was Valentino who dragged it out, but that’s how it was. He signed and it made sense. Afterwards, we found ourselves with Honda who made us an offer, but a Honda next to Márquez is a bit like Pedrosa. And that's not good. And Suzuki, we weren't there, and they preferred to take Rins and Iannone.
So for a moment, there is a manufacturer called KTM who wants Johann Zarco and who believes a lot in Johann Zarco, who wants to be world champion with Johann Zarco and who has the means, since you also have to know that he also sponsors Honda, since it is Red Bull. The bike: the 2 riders who were on the Tech3 bike are on the KTM. At one time we said that the Tech3 bike, since it hasn't changed, it's a 2016, the suspensions are still the same, there has only been an evolution of 500 laps better thanks to Mr.... Eric de Seynes who pushed a little from Yamaha (editor's note: here, it should be noted that Laurent Fellon called back the Eurosport journalists by telephone to correct his error, obtaining the additional 500 rpm being entirely the fruit of the work of Hervé Poncharal). Because you should know that Eric has always done his best for us, to try to get us a Yamaha handlebar, because he has supported us from the start. Besides, KTM, every time they put their finger, they were world champions. We were in the team where Oliveira was. We saw the bike arrive and Johann tested it. He was pleasantly surprised, with a bike that was 5 km/h slower at the start, and rode the moto2 as hard as with his Kalex. It was in 2016. KTM is a team of enthusiasts who believe a lot in Johann. That's very important. And I also believe that Johann can be world champion at KTM. And next year, come on, let's say he achieves the same results as with the Yamaha, because it's pretty much like the Yamaha, and maybe the year after that he wins Grands Prix. Maybe in the middle of the season we will already win Grands Prix.”
Weren't you a little upset by the lack of interest from the official Yamaha team?
“Not offended. It's a strategy. Lots of people say it's politics. I don't play politics: I have a pilot, I try to do the best for my pilot. Previously, there were plenty of stories. You know, there were people on your set who believed that Johann Zarco should move up to MotoGP. At a certain point there were play-offs and I'm happy to have made the play-offs to stay in Moto2. He had to learn, and not skip steps. If I tell you that we're going to KTM and that we'll be world champions, I'll bet right away: we'll be world champions! And then, everyone will say that we are the biggest and most beautiful. The important thing is to think about the rider and the person on the bike. That's the most important thing. And Johann Zarco, if he is well surrounded, he has the potential to be world champion.
Afterwards, everyone turns a blind eye, but Vale is very intelligent. He has a school with kids. In 2 years, who do you think will be on his bike? There will be an Italian next time. We want an official motorcycle. Even if you have an official bike in a satellite team, it's useless. It's not the same, you are still dominated. So we want a team that is behind it, that wants to be world champion, and lots of things. And KTM has the potential to make it happen. He works hard, they do the right thing, and in every category they have been there.”
Maybe Johann Zarco scares Valentino Rossi and he worked behind the scenes...
“Who's in charge at Yamaha? Is it Yamaha or Valentino? I ask you the question. I think it's the opposite. Valentino is a very passionate and very chauvinistic person. He is right to be like that because if we, in France, were this chauvinistic, we would perhaps have more French people on the motorcycle tracks. He went to school and in 2 years he will stop. He's going to put an Italian on the official Yamaha, because he knows that the bike is very, very good. So he is right to act like that. I had seen this situation for a while, I saw how it was going, and I wanted a good bike for Johann. If it's to wait again... we wait, we wait, we get old and it doesn't happen. Johann still has 2 or 3 years, and if he has an official bike, that he can fight in front, with the enthusiasm of Red Bull and KTM who want to do everything for Johann, you will be in for a surprise! »
Once things have been clarified, we must now focus on the present season, before turning later to the future and this challenge, certainly difficult but very exciting.
Source and photo credit: Eurosport
