On this Saturday, May 15, 2021, Johann zarco answered questions from journalists from the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans at the end of the second day of the French Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver who currently occupies 5th place in the championship after having led it after the two races in Qatar.
As usual, we report here the words of Johann zarco without the slightest formatting, even if it is translated from English in the first part (vouvoiement).
Johann zarco : " Happy ! I must be happy because it's been a difficult day, a little wetter this morning, and when it's wetter I need more time to find the confidence. I feel really good when it dries but with a little more water I don't feel the tires well yet. I know it's just about doing more laps and having confidence in the tires and the bike, so I did that. But when you want to make no mistakes, then you take a little too long. It wasn't a big problem and I was able to ride this morning. This afternoon it was great to be able to warm up with the slicks, but once again the track conditions weren't great, and if you can't attack perfectly with the bike, you can't not go very very quickly. I was ready for qualifying, rain or no rain, and I did a lap on the wet tires, just to set a time in case it started to rain. Then the track started to dry very quickly and it was good to jump on the bike equipped with slick tires. I had enough turns to play my cards and to set the best time possible. The 32.8 is OK, as there were still some wet areas on the track. The patches which were in the last sector did not bother me too much and I am only two tenths behind Fabio. I have to accept that: we are all fighting and there are four guys who did better than me. But from the first lap on slick, I fought well until the end where I did this 32.8. So I would say that everything is pretty much under control, which is good for tomorrow. »
How difficult is it to have a weekend like this, with conditions changing all the time?
« You can tell you're ready when you can be pretty fast regardless of the conditions, rain or dry. It gives you that confidence that makes you think, “Okay, I can be ready.” Not as perfectly as if you have a completely dry weekend, you're never perfect, and a few things could be better, but as long as you can stay with the guys in front, you know you can make up for it by yourself- even small problems. At the moment I'm pretty fast in all conditions, and just on a completely wet track I'd like to be a little faster like Jack is. It's very strong when it's wet, and just a few laps it's immediately very fast. If it rains tomorrow, I would need to be a bit like that to have a chance of a podium or a victory. »
Concerning your rear tire if it rains: Have you definitely chosen to use the medium or will it take over?
« Much will depend on the rain. But if it's like we've had this whole weekend, a little rain and then it dries up, I think the medium is the best choice for doing 45 minutes straight without having to stop. The soft ones give you confidence but if it gets too hot due to a lack of water, then the race can become very complicated. We'll have to see, but for now I'd say the medium may be the best option to have a consistent run until the end. »
Why did everyone exclusively use soft tires in the dry? Is it just because of the low track temperature?
« We now know the tires pretty well. We no longer have any questions about the slicks and, yes, we use all the soft/soft ones because it's pretty cold. We know that soft/soft can be good throughout the race if it's dry, and that's why I have no doubts about them. And like the others, we know that software/software is safer and that we have this margin with it. »
Do you plan to use the holeshot device in the wet?
« Here, in the wet, we don't use this system because it slips too much if the acceleration is strong. So we have to stay normal. But as for starting in the wet, that's not a problem because we know that Fabio will also have to be careful in the wet, and only if it's dry will Jack and I have to leave to stay with Fabio. »
And you can use it in the dry even with the Dunlop baffle?
« I would say yes but we still have to decide. »
Have you already spoken with Ducati about your 2022 option?
« Yes, we should talk about it soon but we haven't mentioned it yet. Afterwards, my goal is to stay with them, because for my quest for the title, I will lose too much time if I change bikes, and I no longer have time to waste time. So the objective is to stay with Ducati, and even with Pramac, given that we are well together with the team and that it can play for the title. I hope to go in that direction, and that's why I try to do the job as best I can so that it's reciprocal, that I want to stay, and that they want to keep me. »
How is working with the factory drivers? Is it only on the circuits where you see outside?
« Things are going well on the circuits in general, and we were finally able to see each other a few times in Panigale mode. Especially this winter, and we had so much fun getting along in Jerez that it created bonds. But there, no, we're not trying to see ourselves out of the loop. Pecco is more of a VR46, but I see that if we need to talk a little, we can. When the atmosphere is good, we get along well, and you feel that even in the little that we discuss, the substance is healthy. »
How do you deal with changes in the weather and does it worry you a little?
« I looked at the weather forecast for Le Mans and it's forecast to rain until August 15, so you shouldn't trust it too much (laughs). You have to manage to adapt a little at the time, but the advantage is that the wind is always in the same direction, so you start to get used to it when you see clouds and a little rain, like in FP4 where they all returned and I stayed on the track: I was careful but at least it allowed me to ride or caravan while looking at the sky. And finally, in this case, I saw that it had only been some taste. So yes, if the wind always stays in the same direction, it looks like we can get a certain reading of the sky. Hopefully, if the situation changes before departure, it will give us an idea of how we will prepare. »
Tomorrow, do you prefer a race in the wet or in the dry?
« If I had the choice of the weather for tomorrow at 14 p.m., it's true that I have more margin of victory if we start with rain tires and that it dries as the race progresses after a good downpour. A bit of the same situation as last year, but if it dries up a little earlier. With probably medium tyres, this is the best solution. On paper and in my feelings, I know that I really won't be able to stress myself out in the race because after mid-race I could have a nice advantage if we are still on rain tires. »
If by chance the VR46 picks up a pair of Ducatis, aren't you afraid that this could harm Pramac's privileged status?
« The Pramac relationship with Ducati is truly excellent. Afterwards, there may be business that takes over, if Rossi arrives, but everyone plays their card. I think that at Pramac, they are well integrated too, and if it happens like that, it will not happen immediately. So that leaves me at least two or three years to play up front, and then we'll see. But if the VR46 takes the advantage at Ducati it will not be immediate. And Dall'Igna still remains the leader and, sometimes, we see that he doesn't just put business first: He's a racing man! I think that the relationship created cannot be destroyed like that by the arrival of Rossi. »
Ranking of Qualification 2 of the French MotoGP Grand Prix at Le Mans:
Ranking of Qualification 1 of the French MotoGP Grand Prix at Le Mans:
Credit rankings: MotoGP.com
