Johann Zarco's third place at the Indonesian Grand Prix was a boost of motivation for the Frenchman. In this way, Zarco has already been on the podium twelve times, but it is also a fact that brings with it a slightly more negative assessment.
by Ana Villaécija from Motosan
Last weekend, MotoGP returned to Indonesia after a 25-year absence. Sunday's race at Mandalika Circuit left fans with many unforgettable moments due to the conditions in which the race took place. But for Johann zarco, this Grand Prix is even more important.
The Pramac Ducati rider took advantage of the track conditions to his advantage. Once again, the Frenchman showed that he knew how to handle himself in the wet, which earned him his first podium of the season behind Miguel Oliveira et fabio quartararo. However, despite the sweetness of the moment, this podium brought with it a slightly more negative assessment.
The third place obtained in Indonesia thus made Johann zarco the active rider with the most MotoGP podiums without winning. The Frenchman went up for the flag ceremony a total of twelve times, although first place resisted him. However, this fact did not tarnish the driver's happiness at winning a new trophy, nor diminished his motivation.
Johann Zarco ended a streak of twelve races without a podium finish
Despite the lack of victories, zarco managed to end its losing streak from last season. The rider started as one of the favorites to win the MotoGP title, becoming the provisional leader of the general classification in 2021. However, the rider started to have problems in the second half of the campaign, and since the Catalan Grand Prix, he was unable to get back on the podium. A total of twelve races, a series that he ended with his… twelfth podium.
Furthermore, after a difficult start to the season for Ducati, zarco managed to be the first driver to reach the podium with the Desmosedici GP22. After the Qatar Grand Prix, where the official drivers decided to use an engine closer to the 2021 version, this new version of Ducati sowed doubt in the paddock. However, zarco managed to partially erase them in Indonesia by notably beating Jack Miller, with whom he competed for the podium.
However, zarco isn't the only driver to break this particular record. Tied with the Frenchman at the top of this table is Colin Edwards. Behind, Graeme Crosby has ten podiums without any victory. In the case of zarco, eight of these twelve podiums were second places. The Frenchman came close to victory on three occasions. At the 2017 Valencia GP, behind Dani Pedrosa. In Argentina 2018, very close to Cal Crutchlow. Et finally at the Catalan GP in 2021, behind the winner of the Indonesian GP Miguel Oliveira.
