MotoGP Portugal J1, Debriefing Johann Zarco (Ducati/8): “Already if he doesn't play it cool here, in my opinion, in Jerez, it will be strong (laughs)”, etc. (Entirety)

On this Friday, April 16, 2021, Johann zarco answered questions from journalists from the Portimão circuit at the end of the first day of the Portuguese Grand Prix.

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 answers are translated from English (vouvoiement).

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Johann zarco : " The day was interesting. Really, it's nice to come back to Europe and have a morning session and an afternoon session. The conditions were a bit tricky this morning with a few patches, and this afternoon it could also have rained but we had good conditions to work. So we were able to work a little more on the tires and understand the feeling on the bike. I'm pretty happy to be with the right group. For the moment, I haven't been able to do much better because I'm not very relaxed on the bike and I feel that we have a few steps to find for me to be comfortable and then be able to sustain a good rhythm with the leading guys. Above all, Pecco (Bagnaia) did a very good job this morning, and what's perfect is that I can have his data to understand and try to do the same as him in the places where I lose time. So let's continue working, let's stay focused, and we'll see tomorrow: If it rains in the morning, it will be generally good because we will save energy for the afternoon, and if the conditions are good I think it will will then have to go down to a small 39 to be in the first 10 and go directly to Q2. »

In what area are you not completely comfortable on this circuit?

« I think our main problem, for me on the bike, is really in the middle of the corner when we are at maximum angle. I then lack stability and the bike can become quite nervous. Coming out of the corner, I have to contain the bike because I'm missing something in the middle of the corner. That's the point, and that's why I know that in this kind of field, even though I'm progressing well with my style, I can't do everything. I think we will find something because I already have a better feeling compared to last year: I can try more things on the bike with my riding and give clear information to the team. »

You used a soft tire for a good part of FP2. Do you think the latter can do the whole race?

« No, it works better as a qualifying tire (laughs). It's a soft tire that offers a lot of grip during the first two laps, but even with this grip I'm not able to use it well. Then it deteriorates quite a bit. So I think that for the race the tire will be the same as last year, the one which is now called the medium. This will be the racing tire. This circuit is very demanding on the tires, and as soon as we want a little more grip from the tire, we get graining. We must accept it and use the hard way. »

I need a clarification about what you said yesterday at the press conference, something about you not wanting to try anything else...

« No, I don't remember saying anything like that. When I talked about trying things, it was to say that I didn't have any extra pressure because of the fact that I was leading the championship. And Ducati is not asking me to try more things than what is planned. That's what I meant. »

What happened with the fire on your bike at the end of the session? Is it because of the proximity of the exhaust and the fairing?

« Technically, I don't really know, but it's true that even when we stop it's very hot and we have to be careful. But I experienced another small problem with the exhaust at the end of the session, and that may have been why I had a fire when I slowed down for the start practice. So I think it was the combination of those two things that produced a lot of heat. I do not know why. Maybe simply because we have 300 horsepower and it heats up very quickly (laughs). No, no, it was perhaps the little problem we had at the end of the session which easily created this fire. »

Was this your first time riding a Ducati double saddle?

« Unfortunately, it wasn't a double saddle! And it's not very comfortable! Luckily I was able to sit down and Jack was on the tank because I think it's impossible to stay on the back of the bike without risking breaking something. I was on the saddle and he was on the tank. If we could have both put our feet on the footrests, I think we both could have had our knees touch the floor, but we didn't have time to organize that. »

The circuit is very different from Qatar and you're not so bad: Did you expect that or more complicated?

« No, I expected about that, maybe even a little better. There, I see that I'm less comfortable than I thought, but that's the challenge and I like it! And as I say, even when you have difficulties, there is always a guy on a Ducati who starts, and there it is Bagnaia who is above the rest, really! That interests me a lot, as it's a lot on my mind and it motivates me. If I develop the right boxes in my head, and if we adjust the bike so that it feels better, the bike is at a podium level on almost all circuits. »

What did you think of Marc Márquez's first day?

« Well, it’s strong! The little I saw already this morning, when I was in the box or when I was coming back and he was still on the track, you feel that he has lost none of his ease. That's nice to look at ! And apparently the arm holds correctly. You see that he is not an eight-time champion for nothing: He has an immediate adaptation and ease on the bike, and that is beautiful to see! Clearly, it is better than I imagined. I thought he was going to play it cooler here to come back strong in Jerez, and so already if he doesn't play it cool here, in my opinion in Jerez it will be strong (laughs). »

Standings for FP2 of the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimão:

Credit ranking: MotoGP.com