On this Thursday, November 19, Johann zarco answered questions from journalists from the Algarve Autodrome ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French pilot.
As usual, we report here the words of Johann zarco without the slightest formatting, even if the first part is translated from English (vouvoiement).
Johann zarco : « Sorry about last Sunday: I didn't take the time to talk because I didn't want to explain in detail why I fell. I was sad and it was kind of a mistake that I didn't have much to say about. So it was better to make a simple comment rather than a long interview. But now, in Portimão, I am excited and happy to do the last race here. I tried the track with the Panigale, just before the French Grand Prix, and I enjoyed the circuit. Now that I have more control of my MotoGP, I really hope that I will manage everything well to fight for the lead. This really gives me great motivation, especially since I have a kind of anger and desire to finish well after my fall in Valencia. I hope I will use this anger well in the last race. »
« The track looks interesting and I think we can adapt to it quite quickly. Regardless, a few MotoGPs have already tested here, which helps to already have a base to work from and not completely discover and sort everything out. That's why I can't say I'm confident but I'm excited to start the weekend. There will also be two longer sessions on Friday, which will help you approach things calmly and prepare well, because 1h30 of testing is long. We also have a few more tires to have a wider choice and be able to do the whole weekend. So everything looks good to do a good job. »
What assessment can you draw from this reconstruction season?
« I would say that since Misano, it is only positive because the main objective of returning to the best level, and having a competitive and upcoming bike, has been achieved. Because even if we didn't know (where I would go) between the Factory Pramac team, I would have the same bike. I'm also happy. The factory team is a little more prestigious but I know I can think about winning at Pramac, and I love that feeling. The main objective has therefore been achieved and since Aragon, I have almost approached the races as a test for next year. This doesn't give me any more, because we saw that I didn't finish the last race when I was expecting a good fight for the podium, but I fell before. But at least it still teaches a lesson and allows me not to panic too much about the championship, since until now I didn't have much to gain or lose. So I'm happy to have found this stability as well as the way to perform again by working on the bike and on myself. We have the cards in hand and we can work. »
What was Ducati’s role in this recovery of confidence?
« Just technically, the base of the bike immediately gave me better confidence, and from there, because the first step had been positive, you can ride that positive attitude a little more. The way I was able to adapt also made me very happy, and I think that the race in the Czech Republic, with the pole position and the podium, although it was only the third race, gave me great hope and confidence in what I could do. So far I haven't re-released it, but this third run brought the clear vision that we could do something. »
What advantage do the tests you have carried out here with the Panigale give you?
« Above all, this allows you to learn the track, but as the Panigale is also a very powerful motorcycle, you learn the track using almost the same trajectories as in MotoGP. So it's a good thing and you can also get a first feeling of how the bike behaves overall with all these elevation changes. We'll have a lot of wheelies and maybe an unstable bike, but it helps us mentally prepare for what we're going to have to do on the bike. I think this will save us a day of work, and that tomorrow, from the first outing and the first 10 or 15 laps, if you do runs of seven or eight laps, you are ready to work, whereas if you don't know the circuit requires almost a day. »
What grade would you give yourself this year?
« I don't know, because I like to be consistent and I clearly haven't been this year. Because of that, I would say that out of 10, I give myself maybe 4 points: I haven't been consistent, I don't like it, and I clearly have things to learn. But just because I found the feeling again that I could be fast, because I did good things that I had the confirmation that I could still do more and be ready for next year , and not to rate myself below average although I can't go much higher than five because of the ups and downs, I would say 5,5. That's a good number. »
Can arriving at a circuit that no one really knows in MotoGP help you?
« I think it can help me because motivation can go a long way. And clearly, this end-of-year motivation is good, because I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to being able to do something really good. I repeat, last week's blank result creates a bit of a positive rage to end on a good note this weekend. Afterwards, the most advantaged will surely be Aleix Espargaró who, after all, has already ridden his MotoGP on this circuit. We will therefore also see how he adapts, and perhaps from the first laps we can take an example from him, which would give me certain passages of the circuit. To have ! For the rest, I saw that I adapted well with the Panigale and I would like to have the same advantage this weekend. »
« To come back to your question, I think that in around ten laps you are already in an interesting zone and that you can give clearer comments to your team, whereas if you don't know the track, you almost need it. daytime. »
In what state do you finish the season physically and mentally?
« Physically, I think it's okay. Every time we have two or three days of recovery, we still feel that it feels good. But for me, doing a series of runs and races allows me to gain more and more feeling each time, so I like it a lot. »
« And mentally, there's still too much desire to do well, so it's a rather fresh desire that gives me motivation. Clearly, this winter, as it will pass quickly, there is no feeling of a setback, whereas last year with what did not go very well, then the change at Honda and the signing at Ducati, I dropped everything for a week to take a trip with the series and go to the Maldives. It was definitely the kind of trip where you cut everything out. This year, I don't even want to do something like that, I more want to stay on a regular physical level, running or cycling if we are relaxed, although as an athlete professional I think I have the right to ride a bike. That's it, it's almost spending the month of December in the cold at home and really going to generate physique to be ready next year. Continuing what I am doing. »
With the two extended sessions on the first day, will you have more tires?
« Yes. We already have four choices instead of three, front and rear, and plenty of them, I'm pretty sure. I don't know exactly how much, but my chief technician told me we had what we needed. »
Isn't Portimão going to be the most physically difficult Grand Prix, with all these climbs and descents?
« It's not the hottest Grand Prix, so I think the physique also often suffers a lot in the heat. So no, I would say it won't be the most difficult, because it won't be the hottest. On a technical level, yes, but the goal is to find this ease which will allow you to have fun with the difference in altitude instead of having to endure it. On paper, that would be ideal. »
Following on from the previous question, would you have a 10 or a 9 to give to anyone in the paddock?
« Suzuki, eh! Suzuki and Mir, because we can clearly give him 10 out of 10. I haven't looked but I think he finished all his races. No ? So we can give him 10 out of 10, with the title of world champion. And even if we had been mean, saying that he would have been world champion without a victory, we would have given him a 9, but there he obtained at least one victory. So without a doubt, it's him, and ultimately even the Suzuki team in general. Knowing Davide Brivio, I'm happy for him, and he really did a great job. The Suzuki debut was in 2015, and things have progressed well since then. »
Given the current season, can you look forward to 2021 and know what you will be able to do at Pramac?
« I would really like to be able to compete for the podium in every race. For me, the performance must be there, with the regularity which means that, if and when you are not at your best, you can be 7th or 8th when you are in difficulty. I would like to have this level and I also hope that there will be a little extra between the 2019 bike and the 2020 bike which will give me even more positive and allow me to move towards that. That's why I'm really giving the maximum to get closer already in these last races, because during the winter, you can plan more reasonably towards this objective if you already touch it with your fingertips at the end of 2019. So there you have it, that’s what I want to point to. To have. It's hard to say because it's true that sometimes we have surprises, but on paper, even when the Ducatis are struggling, there is always one that performs, so that motivates us to think that the bike is ready. And if it also fixes its small problems, it can become the strongest bike again, like it was two or three years ago. »
