MotoGP Malaysia J1 Johann Zarco (Ducati/15) is bitter after the incident with Pol Espargaró: “if it was me who did that, they would have called me a murderer”

Johann Zarco did not start this Malaysian Grand Prix as he had announced, either in attack mode to get to the top of the timesheet from the start. Certainly, he was sparkling during FP2 completed on a drying track, but the ranking that counts at the end of Friday in Sepang is the hierarchy cleared from FP1. However, he only ranks fifteenth. But what the Frenchman remembers from this day is the incident with Pol Espargaró. Between him and these two brothers, the relationship has never been a long, quiet river, the two Spaniards accusing the tricolor of all evils as soon as a disputed track event occurs. But this time, it was the Honda rider who was really dangerous for his counterpart from the Pramac Ducati team. He was also punished...

Sanctioned certainly, but the person designated guilty by the Race Direction, and also by the images, defended himself by arguing circumstances, and the state of the track in the disputed place, to alleviate his guilt. The kind of attitude you would never have Johann zarco, that the two brothers I will espargaro like to identify as their victim. The latest incident with the siblings dates back to the last Austrian Grand Prix where the then unhappy Aleix had come close at full speed to the Ducati hit with the 5 which came out of the stands, nevertheless holding its right well so as not to get in the way.

A precaution that was not bothered Pol Espargaro who went wide at the fast turn 8 before returning just as quickly to the trajectory that was approaching at high speed Johann zarco. The latter had to slow down significantly and take an evasive maneuver so that all these beautiful people escaped unscathed.

However, the teammate of George Martin could not ignore this, due to all of the above… “ It was really tight! » reports Zarco on motorsport total. " I went far myself at that time, but I didn't expect him to come back on the track like he did ". And he says what needs to be said: “ people would call me a murderer if I did something like that. I know it ". He adds : " we should not ignore something like this. I was shocked because it was really dangerous ».

Pol Espargaró responds to Johann Zarco: “There's a reason I got back on track so quickly"

This was not ignored since Pol Espargaro will have to surrender three places on the starting grid at the end of qualifying. But he has his point of view on events: “ I'm the first to admit that it wasn't a pretty scene. Things like this shouldn't happen. But you need to understand the bigger picture », declares the youngest I will espargaro. " If you watch the TV pictures, you I can definitely see the penalty and understand it. But there's a reason I got back on track so quickly, because that's where the grass stands up ».

He explains : " there should be a green bitumen area just behind the curb so that you have the opportunity to slowly return to the track like on every other circuit in the world », suggests the pilot Honda. " Because I had to avoid the grass at this point, I had to return to the circuit. Johann came exactly at that moment ". He also mentions, as if that were the point: “ my lap and Johann's lap were canceled anyway because there were yellow flags ».

After his hearing with the race stewards, Pol Espargaro said : " I told them it was my fault. But I also explained to them what really happened. And if I do that, then the scene should at least return to a normal look. The race marshals don't ride a MotoGP at these speeds, so they should listen a little more to what the riders are saying. We have already complained to the safety commission about this, but they simply do not listen to us,” says I will espargaro angrily before concluding: “ it's like talking to the wall ". Clearly, between this Race direction and this college of commissioners and the drivers, nothing is going well and has been for quite a while.

MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix FP1/FP2 results at Sepang:

Credit ranking: MotoGP.com