On this Saturday, April 3, 2021, Johann zarco answered questions from journalists from the Losail circuit at the end of the second day of the Doha Grand Prix in Qatar, which he finished in second position.
This happened during the post-qualifying press conference which also brought together Jorge Martin, Maverick Viñales, Sam Lowes and Jaume Masiá.
We went to listen (via software) to the words of the French pilot.
As usual, we report here the words of John Zarco without the slightest formatting.
Johann, given today's conditions, you must have thought that your time was enough to take pole position... But in any case, you must be very happy to start from the front row tomorrow?
Johann zarco : " Of course, I am very happy! I think a low 53 was a good goal to be on the front row, and when I saw that 53.2 as I crossed the finish line, I probably expected to be in pole position. Then, when I understood that it was the 89, my teammate, who had taken pole, I was very surprised and of course happy because everything was going perfectly for the Pramac team. First and second, it's simply a joy to take! So it’s been great. I didn't drive in FP3 to avoid any confusion. The wind was very strong and there was also sand in the air, so it was better to wait and do a nice FP4, which I did. But with the wind we could see a good top speed but the pace is perhaps a little difficult to keep very high. I think at the moment Viñales has a better pace than us, so we will see tomorrow what we can do. Of course, starting from the front row with our powerful bike will be an advantage and then we will really have to adapt to what happens tomorrow during the first laps. »
Do you still have room for improvement between now and the race?
« It will be difficult to find something for the race during the warmup, but in the short sessions we have done since yesterday we have tried different things which have been interesting. It didn't give me everything I would have liked, but it's already a good step forward, and maybe it will allow me to have a better feeling during the race. It's hard to say now because a time attack doesn't require the same strategy as race pace, but having the ability to go that fast provides good confidence for the race anyway. »
How does it feel to have to fight tomorrow with someone you don't know very well, like Jorge Martin?
« We will see. If he makes the same start as last week, he should arrive in the lead at the first corner (smile), but if he opens the track, we will see how he behaves. If he has the same feeling he had all weekend, maybe he can do some good first laps and it will be very interesting to follow him. We will see. We will really have to adapt. Of course, we don't really know him but if he goes that fast it means he doesn't do completely crazy things. I'm sure we won't have any (bad) surprises during the race, even if he doesn't have much MotoGP experience. I saw him last week since he overtook me in turn 4 during the first laps, then I overtook him again so I already know a little bit about what my (strong) point can be. »
Nobody was talking about you at the start of the championship, but little by little you are still there. Are you going to be the big surprise of the season?
« I would be the first to be happy, to be the surprise of this season. We all know that I have a good experience now, although I had difficult times in the last two years, but with the bike that works well and a team that controls everything perfectly, since Ducati supports Pramac as the official team, I want to believe that I also have my chance. I really think all the time about improving, having a better feeling on the bike, having the control I want, and it seems that it comes little by little. We are here in Qatar where the Ducatis are working very well, so I am also taking this opportunity, but as I said before the start of the season, my goal will be to be at the same level as Jack at the end of last season. This means fighting for podiums and even thinking about victory. I was able to start at this pace from the first race so now the goal is to continue like this. Clearly, if I can stay smart for the races while having this good feeling, I have a good chance. There are only positives to take and enjoy. »
After a year on the Ducati, is it easier for you to control the wear of the rear tire throughout the race?
« Yes. After a year on the bike, when I started testing here, I immediately did the right things on the bike. Not perfectly but in the right way. This helps a lot to control the bike, to be fast while preserving a little tire and a little physical energy. The goal is always to have this kind of feeling, but better and better, to have more control during the race, because having the possibility of control is the key point in MotoGP. Sometimes you can have a surprise with the tire: when you feel like you can attack, you do, but then you suffer at the end of the race. I saw him last week. I felt like I could control it but the last four or five laps were difficult. I hope that during the last five laps tomorrow I will have more energy with the tire to play my luck. »
Some pilots complained of sand and dust in their eyes during FP3. Have you had the same thing and could it be a security issue?
« I got sand just from walking. In terms of driving, I don't know, because I didn't drive and it was better to be patient. But I think if you're really focused and you keep your helmet closed, unless you're really unlucky, you can't get sand in your eyes as long as you stay on the track. Of course, if you're flying and you're taking it, you've got a problem. But fortunately, even if the wind is strong in the evening, it's normally not as much of a disaster as in the afternoon, and we saw that today: It was possible to fly, and we even been fast. »
Ranking of Qualification 2 of the MotoGP Doha Grand Prix:
Ranking of Qualification 1 of the MotoGP Doha Grand Prix:
Credit rankings: MotoGP.com
