On this Thursday, April 1, 2021, Johann zarco answered questions from journalists from the Losail circuit ahead of the Doha Grand Prix in Qatar.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French pilot who was alongside Maverick Vinales, Francesco Bagnaia, Joan Mir, Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins.
As usual, we report here the words of Johann zarco without the slightest formatting.
What does your team plan to do so that, together with Pecco Bagnaia, you move from second and third places to first and second?
Johann zarco : “As Maverick said, I think tire wear is always difficult to manage. I think my race in second with Pecco, trying to follow Maverick, helped me a lot to be competitive until the end, and even though Joan Mir overtook me at the end, almost at the end of the last turn, this gave me the opportunity to repeat it. I think Pecco will not want to lead the race again, to save the tire. I think that's the key point: Whoever is leading the race may have more problems in the second half. But at the same time we have to be fast, so we will see how we can manage on Sunday. Our goal is to have more opportunities to be fast at the end of the race, like Maverick was, and to fight, with him or anyone else, but to be able to fight for the victory, and more for the podium. »
The Ducatis have always done very well here, but if this year they didn't win, would that be worrying?
« No. If we don't get a victory in the two races in Qatar, we don't need to worry because we are very competitive and we can be in the top 3 throughout the race and finish on the podium. This is a good sign for the future. No, we shouldn't worry if that happens, even if the goal is to win. We know we have a chance to do it, and we have to manage and find a solution to have this chance during the race and not struggle too much because of the rear tire. »
Did you have time to unwind between the two races?
« For me, the change in mindset was able to happen on Tuesday, not immediately the day after the race because there was still a lot of adrenaline. But on Tuesday it was very calm and naturally, from Wednesday you start to think a little more. You want to prepare for the race and you start watching and analyzing the previous weekend. »
Both French drivers finished in the top 5 last time. Are you prepared to fight against each other for victory, and being the same nationality, will this affect your tactics?
« It's good to both be in the top 5 for our country and I hope we can fight together for the podium or for the victory soon. Last year he won races and I haven't won yet, but better chance of doing so this year. So that would be really good, and as we are not in the same team and with the same bike, so we don't have a strategy for the championship during this season, so if he or I have a chance to win, we will try to fight but stay smart and not make stupid mistakes. It would be an ideal race to have the two Frenchmen fighting for victory, because it would mean that we are stronger than the others. »
You started MotoGP in 2017 with Tech3 and you almost left MotoGP with KTM, which would have been a shame because you are an exciting rider. You have just finished second with the Pramac Ducati team and you must be impatient to start your somersault again after a victory…
« Yes, I can't wait. I'm trying to do a few at the gym, and I'm getting there, but I haven't tried it with leather, but I'm sure if that happens I'll have enough energy to do it . It is obvious that I have more experience now than in 2017, and with this experience also now the material to enjoy the championship. At the end of the race, in the evening, Dall'Igna told me that ultimately it was a good decision to stay in MotoGP at the end of 2019, because I was really thinking about maybe going back down to Moto2. It was under discussion, between the Avintia team or returning to Moto2. He then pushed and told me “believe me, we can do something good”, and it’s true that if I had returned to Moto2 at the end of 2019, I would not have been on the podium last Sunday. »
What is special about driving at night in Qatar, and do you feel comfortable in this situation?
« For me, running at night here in Qatar is anyway better than during the day because then it's too hot and we can't have good speed. Regarding the spotlights, they don't bother at all, or we get used to them. We have to be so focused on going fast that we almost forget it's dark. No, for me, the state of mind is really similar to other races and this change doesn't bother me. Then, and this is why we try to run relatively early, we previously ran later, around 21 or 22 p.m., and at that time the humidity can change a lot and be disruptive. Now it's relatively stable, even with the wind. Last week, with the strong wind, we expected to have perhaps a complicated race but it was a good race. So everything is well organized. »
Photo credit: MotoGP.com
