This Sunday, September 19, 2021, John Zarco answered questions from journalists from the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, at the end of the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver who is still in 4th place in the championship despite a difficult race.
As usual, we report here the words of John Zarco without the slightest formatting, even if it is partially translated (vouvoiement in English, tutoiement in French).
Johann zarco : " A very difficult race! I wanted, I expected to have a better pace and to stay with the good group, but the start of the race was very difficult. The tires were slipping a bit and I lost positions very quickly. By the time I was able to get a better pace, I had to do a Long Lap because I missed turn 1 when I overtook Nakagami. I followed the short passage so as not to short-circuit (the route) but it seems that I should have followed it a little longer. So of course that Long Lap didn't help keep a good pace, and then I struggled because the left side of my rear tire was completely destroyed. This is also one of the reasons why it was very difficult to keep a pace under 1'33. The arm too: I felt pain 10 laps from the finish. It started to be painful. I think I could have contained that, but generally speaking I should have had a higher pace, in 1'32.5. But I didn't get it and I did the best race I could. It's a difficult moment that I have to swallow while waiting, I hope, for better times soon. »
You are going to have surgery on Wednesday: In what state of mind will you approach the last four races?
« Here, we are immediately after the race, so I am disappointed with the poor result and disappointed to have so much difficulty keeping a good pace. However, it was already significantly better than the previous races: Silverstone or Aragón. So there were some good things this weekend, but unfortunately it didn't materialize in the race. So there is disappointment. Afterwards, the first objective is to finish and not go to the ground, because that would be even more of a shame. So I was able to hold on, and physically it's difficult but I'm going through with it. We will say that it is a first satisfaction. Afterwards, maybe this arm bothers me more than I think. There will be new things from next week, new discoveries, and Austin is a big circuit where the Ducati can for me have an advantage in terms of engine. Afterwards, there are a lot of angle changes, so it's never very easy for the Ducati either. There you go, there will be positive points and negative points, and we will have to deal with them. And if the arm, in terms of feeling, is a big difference, maybe it will free me more. So disappointed for the moment because the bad period is longer than I imagined. It's never easy to live with, and in any case it's not fun when you want to perform. »
Compared to the start of the season, are it your opponents who have progressed or is it you who are more hampered, mainly by your arm?
« I think the general level has increased. Afterwards, as it doesn't matter much, perhaps my pain, even unconsciously, the body puts itself in a sort of security to suffer less. I don't know. There, I felt pain but it's really not easy to explain. »
Looking at Francesco Bagnaia’s data acquisitions, where is he saving time?
« Yes, clearly, I have been able to analyze Bagnaia for a while, or even compare with everyone: His strength is braking. It saves time when braking! Not because he brakes much later, but he manages to position the bike in a way that allows him to enter corners quickly and turn well. That's really his strength, and when he manages to apply it, he stuck a good second to the second. He gets into his rhythm and he keeps it. That's the ideal, and the fact that he does it is good for him. »
You have surgery on Wednesday, the day there are MotoGP tests in Misano…
« I'm going to ride on Tuesday. I'm going to try it anyway, and Tuesday evening I'll return. I'm going to sleep in Aix, and in the morning I'll be in the operating room. »
San Marino MotoGP Grand Prix results:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
