On this Thursday, April 15, 2021, Johann zarco answered questions from journalists from the Portimao circuit ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French pilot who was alongside Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales, Joan Mir, Miguel Oliveira and Marc Marquez.
As usual, we report here the words of Johann zarco without the slightest formatting.
What do you think of the return of Marc Márquez?
Johann zarco : " I think that's great, but the main point is that it's very important to Marc. I can't imagine, for a boy who has so much energy, having to stay at home and having this doubt about his arm. I think all the fans are very happy but the most important thing is himself. I can imagine the butterflies in his stomach, as he says, but I'm happy for him that he can put the doubts about him to rest. »
After obtaining two second places, you currently lead the championship: Can you continue this momentum here in Portimão?
« Coming in as a leader feels really good and just gives a great feeling. This is the best position to start the European MotoGP tour. I think the bike works well here in Portimão. We always thought it was trickier, maybe, but Jack Miller's second place last year is very important to me: It means the bike is competitive. The sensations I got last year were also very interesting and I am still improving my level. So I hope that I will immediately have this speed from FP1 and maintain it for qualifying and the race. I'm quite optimistic and I hope that this position will give me some kind of extra energy to continue to attack for another podium or, if everything goes very well, why not have an extra notch with a victory. We have to start on Friday and see but I think we still have good things and the potential of the bike is very high anyway. So I think I can hope for a nice result. »
You now lead the championship: What is your strong point in trying to maintain this position?
« I would say perhaps experience. The way I was able to fight for the second title in 2016. I learned a lot of things, and even if it's not the same situation now, with what I was able to learn in the last two years I would say that I really take the fact of leading the championship as a beautiful thing and without having the slightest pressure. And maybe, if I can maintain this pace for many races or all races, and always fight for good positions and podiums, take points, maintain the lead, then I hope I can always take it in a light way as I take it now. Because I understood that it could happen or go away like that (for nothing). That's why I don't feel too much pressure. Maybe that can be my strong point but we'll only see at the end of the season if I'm right or not. »
You are not only the championship leader but also the leader at Ducati. Does this provide additional pressure?
« No. No pressure at all because, as I said, it's the best position to start a race weekend. Being the championship leader means everything is going well, and you just hope it continues like that. Because I lead the championship, yes I also lead at Ducati, but there is not the slightest pressure there either. They don't ask me to do more things this weekend because I lead: Everything is very well organized at Ducati and the work doesn't change, just like the objective doesn't change. It's just that this bike has this potential to win races, so we try to exploit it as best as possible. This is why there is no pressure. We had a good time in Qatar and we will do our best to have a good time again here, starting on Friday. »
What quality in Marc Márquez would you like to have?
« What we know about Marc is the way he puts the bike into the corners. I remember that and I think that if he can quickly recover physically it will be difficult for us again quite quickly (laughs). It’s something that took me a long time to have that confidence and feeling for. That’s how strong he’s been throughout his entire career. »
What is your opinion on holeshot devices and how important is it for racing today?
« At Ducati we have taken a big step forward. We already had this system to lower the rear of the bike, but now we can also lower the front, which almost turns it into a dragster. We were surprised in the first race but even in the second, starting from the front row, it was an advantage to maintain the position, so Ducati worked well on that. I'm happy to have this advantage and I think it's also safe: We go faster but in places where we have space. So we're still safe, but faster, so I think it works well. »
Photo credits: MotoGP.com
