This Saturday, November 6, 2021, John Zarco answered questions from journalists from the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimão, at the end of the second day of the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver who qualified 5th after going through Q1.
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 : " Very happy ! I had a great afternoon! This morning I was disappointed because the wind and the low temperatures really gave me a little too much hesitation, and as soon as you don't want to attack everywhere, you lose time and the others, who are able to attack or who take more risks, succeed. But in the afternoon, in FP4, I really progressed and this gave me good confidence again to drive the way I want. There was a good confirmation in Q1, then in Q2 I only had a new tire to use but I think it was enough because I was able to do several laps in a small 39 and even do the 38.9, and that's it. is good for the mind to really know the rhythm and to be strong for tomorrow. So I'm very happy with this afternoon and knowing the conditions to feel good and fight with the leading group. »
There are a lot of Ducatis up front. Do you think you can follow Francesco Bagnaia tomorrow?
« I will try to follow him, for sure (laughs)! Jack, Martín, and there is also Joan Mir and Fabio: I think he is able to be very fast and consistent, so, starting seventh, he will try not to let Pecco leave. But we know Pecco: He likes this kind of situation to be immediately fast and try to escape, because when he has the rhythm it's difficult to catch him. Now he no longer has pressure about the title but a sort of revenge to take after the fall in Misano. He has been very strong since the start of the weekend, so yes, I think he will try to escape, but we are drivers and competitors. »
Have you made your decision about tires?
« I still have to talk a little more tonight but it sure seems pretty clear about the front medium. And for the back, a few guys tried it hard and it doesn't look bad, so we have to check that for tomorrow. »
Let's return to the result of FP3 (where Johann Zarco set the 14th time and missed Q2). How do you bounce back from that?
« I was disappointed but I could see that the conditions had not helped me make a good step forward. Something was still missing and we took the step forward in FP4: Little things so that I had a much better feeling. With just one little thing, I immediately felt much better. It's kind of a weak point for me, but when we're able to put our finger on it, I can be very strong and very competitive. So FP3, yes, I was disappointed, but by analyzing things carefully I saw that I was really not too far away. There are also others who did very well, like Marini. I was able to see the trick that Marini did. In the end, he was only 3/10 faster than me, but it was good enough to progress to Q2. This is why FP3 was negative but not a disaster: The feeling was not far away. »
You say it's one of your weak points. Would you say that being a sensitive rider can be a disadvantage on a Ducati, or is it a weak point in general?
« It's not just on a Ducati that being sensitive can be a weak point. With all motorcycles you want to feel good and for almost nothing you are not too slow, but not fast enough. But it was good today to have confirmation of that, and to be quick. So it was very good. »
Getting through to Q1 can sometimes be an advantage. Was this the case today?
« In general, Q1 requires a lot of energy, then in Q2 you have almost no energy left to attack. It's like in a video game: You've already used up your two lives with both tires in Q1, and you have no lives left for Q2. Today, it wasn't really this situation because even with a worn tire at the start of Q2 I had some feeling and I did a 39.3, which wasn't so bad. And since I had missed the morning, being fast in FP4, Q1 and Q2, and repeating these kinds of laps, was good for me. I think it was very good for confidence. »
Can you already use your natural riding style on the Ducati?
« Things come! Things come. The natural feeling I have is good but I want to improve this natural feeling, so I have to start thinking about what I can change, or where I can find new automatisms. But it's very difficult because it pushes you to take steps backwards. It's easy to say, "Okay, go back to what you know," but it seems like once you get the idea of changing things in your head, it's too late to go back to what you know. Alright. But clearly, I believe that the automatics on the Ducati are always getting better and better, and even if I am always better with my style, it is progressing and I am satisfied with that. »
Third place on the final podium may seem difficult...
« We'll see ! We will see that tomorrow. Fifth is a good place to start. Miller and Mir are very very very motivated. Mir had his best qualification in MotoGP there and we can see that there is a big attack, so we will have to be smart to stay with them, without making any mistakes. Then there is Martín who always has this ability to do great things, and there he starts fourth. He had a great afternoon too. We'll see. The podium would be magnificent, and if I can have it I would be very, very happy. But it is not a foregone conclusion. »
Regarding what you don't like on the bike, that is to say being shaken, does that accentuate your difficulties a little on such a hilly circuit?
« Yes. This is why this morning, with the wind, it was a more difficult adaptation, but which was then managed during the afternoon. Even if we are still shaken on this track, the performance is still interesting, even since yesterday. So it's nice to manage to have speed on a circuit like this, and when you finish a session and you've been pretty fast, you have real satisfaction. So it remains a challenge, but I think it is also for the other drivers: It's a circuit that I like because it is still “challenging”. »
Results of Qualifying 2 of the MotoGP Algarve Grand Prix in Portimão:
Results of Qualifying 1 of the MotoGP Algarve Grand Prix in Portimão:
Credit Ranking: motogp.com
