At the end of the usual Thursday press conference with the first three in the championship Fabio Quartararo, Aleix Espargarò and Pecco Bagnaia, another press conference took place with the drivers who renewed their contracts for 2023, including Johann Zarco . There are five of them who have expressed themselves in this way about their now assured future. Missing the sixth in the person of Joan Mir who was made official at Repsol Honda, but the future ex-Suzuki rider and 2020 World Champion is at home, recovering from a fractured ankle after a violent fall at the last Grand Prix from Austria.
Presents and just as valid, it is John Zarco, scorer of his football team the day before, who started the comments: “ we had to wait until everything was confirmed. Continuing with Pramac is very important for me because it's a Factory motorcycle, that means being able to work well, having top quality materials. I have the impression that things are going well with Ducati, being in a top team is always a pleasure. Obviously, when a driver manages to give good results, it is also an advantage for the sponsors of the satellite team ».
« The relationship has always gone well with the Ducati managers and when they asked themselves whether to take an Italian and a Spaniard, I jokingly said to take a Frenchman but they told me they preferred to take a young man. Keeping someone on a well-working satellite team is very difficult ».
Since we're talking about Ducati, Enea Bastianini continued on his now assured place within the factory team: “ for me it's a dream come true, I'm very motivated but I also know that it will be a big challenge, the pressure will be even greater. I'm happy to be on the team with Pecco, a friend with whom I've been racing since I was a child and for the first time we will be together on the team. I'm ready and we'll see how it goes. It was not easy for Ducati to make this decision because Jorge Martin is also a very fast rider. It will be important for me to work well for the next races. I know that the first part of the season was not constant and I want to change so I can fight for the title. I think I can learn a lot from Pecco, he is very fast and knows how to handle weekends very well, I have to learn from him too because I hope he too can learn something from what I wear ».
Johann Zarco: “ at Ducati, they told me that they preferred to take a young man »
The rest comes with the rejection George Martin which was therefore renewed at Ducati Pramac with Johann zarco : " clearly, I'm a little disappointed, obviously not because they chose Enea because he deserves it. I tried to do my best, I have a great contract, I am very happy and I know that Ducati will push to get the best and we also hope to make history with Pramac. Next year I will try to win the world championship and in this case I could fight with Pecco and Enea, I hope we will have the same support to fight on equal terms.
The war that the media waged between me and Aeneas was of no use to us, I tried to work. I've been suffering since the start of the season and I don't think it's good for a driver, it's difficult to give 100%. At the beginning I felt a lot of confidence from Ducati, we were talking about the future but then at a certain point I started to encounter difficulties.”
Miguel Oliveira then opened up about signing with Aprilia RNF: “ many factors convinced me, the timing first of all. That was the moment when I thought I should try a new bike. Massimo Rivola welcomed me very warmly and that was the extra element that convinced me, it’s a pleasure to work together for the next two years. We know the bike can be consistent for the next few seasons ».
« After a long relationship we didn't want things to end badly, KTM tried to keep me in the family and I am happy with the relationship built over the years. It's difficult to analyze the other bikes, you always have the impression that the others are faster in the heat of the moment. Aleix knows the bike very well, Viñales comes from a career with inline engines and that made the transition to another bike interesting and perhaps it convinced me more of Aleix's results ».
He's the youngest of the group, Raul Fernandez which ends on its future MotoGP with Aprilia RNF: “ I am very happy with this possibility, Massimo and Razlan Razali gave me the opportunity to continue in MotoGP. The season was quite difficult for me, we didn't get the results we wanted. I will try to close the season in the best possible way by giving the best of myself as always and then from Valencia I will focus on the new project, which is extremely interesting. I am the youngest rider in the Aprilia project ».
