The Valencian Community Grand Prix was the opportunity to announce the arrival of young Lorenzo Fellon in the world championship next year (see here).
Obviously, having spent many years under the same roof at the time when Johann Zarco was managed by, then associated with, Laurent Fellon, the French driver could not escape commenting on this news during his Saturday Zoom debriefing.
A subject as delicate as the situation, since if the two adults are now estranged, this does not call into question Johann's attachment to young Lorenzo, and undoubtedly vice versa given the number 5 which was adorned until this year the latter's motorcycle.
Johann zarco : “It’s very good for him to reach the Grands Prix. Is he ready or not? He has at least one season already in the FIM CEV championship which is the toughest and which is contested with the same bikes as those in the Grands Prix. So he already knows the rhythm and the bike a little. And given the situation in relation to Covid, the best place is to be in Grands Prix because, thanks to the number of races, there is a real championship where you can really race and continue to dream of being champion, because national type championships can continue but racing once every two months is tricky. »
“So I’m happy for him! He is at the right age because he will be 17 next year in July. So it's pretty good and we'll see how it goes. He won't be alone so he will already be able to learn things, and I won't be far away but it will still take a little time to digest all the stories. It would displease too many people if I go to see him, so we'll see, but I'm happy for him and it's the best place to be next year, because there will be a real championship. And as a Frenchman, he is currently the fastest Frenchman in the small categories! He really did all his education for this style of motorcycle and for this purpose, and that's very good. I have no doubt that it can do it well. »
The question was undoubtedly working on him in the background while he answered questions about his day on Saturday, Johann Zarco later returned to the subject himself…
“To return to little Fellon, I repeat: It's a good thing, but clearly you won't see me hanging around in the box, because there is too much... I don't know how you can put it, animosity towards me. It's better that we don't see each other, not with him eh, but that we don't talk to our parents, because the separation is still a little fresh in my opinion. »
Our colleague from La Provence then asks Johann Zarco if he would see himself in the role of pilot advisor…
“I see that naturally, it’s almost what I do best. As soon as I see someone driving, a young person, the advice comes naturally, because I experience it so much that I know what I'm talking about. Yes, on paper, I think it's a position that I could hold because I also learned things when we managed the school. Having had to manage toddlers from six years old to 15 year olds in the Rookies Cup, it allowed me to learn pedagogy and know what to see in a kid. So I think I wouldn't be bad, but clearly the idea is to do so well that then I take my guitar and go to the seaside: "Ciao everyone!" » (Laughs). »
