This Saturday, November 13, 2021, John Zarco answered questions from journalists from the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste (Valencia), at the end of the second day of the Valencian Community Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the French driver who occupies 5th place in the championship and qualified 5th on the grid.
As usual, we report here the words of John Zarco without the slightest formatting, even if it is partially translated (vouvoiement in English, tutoiement in French).
Johann zarco : " There is a sort of happiness because it was a good day and a good improvement compared to yesterday. I'm happy about that! FP3 was good and I was able to take the time to get more feeling. It worked well and when I had to attack the performance was also good, so I'm happy with that. Then in the afternoon we tried various things in FP4 and that was a good confirmation that it wasn't really working. The hard rear tire is also difficult to operate here on this very small circuit, because if you miss just one little thing then you are too far from the leading riders. That's why I think it wouldn't be a good choice to put the hard rear tire tomorrow. Then, in qualifying, I went through two tires like everyone else: the first attack wasn't great but the second was much better. I also did one or two good laps and maybe I expected to do even better, but we got the yellow flag. But I'm still happy, P5 is good! We had an incredible lap from Martinator, and it will be good to analyze his ability to go a little beyond the limit but still stay on the bike. This is his strong point and it's good to see and analyze it. »
The Ducatis seem really strong on this circuit at the moment. For what ?
« Ducatis work well everywhere. We have proof of this with Pecco Bagnaia, and the way he has raised the bar inspires all Ducati riders to do the same. We all want to finish the season well and that's why we raise the level. We know that the Ducati has this capacity and this great potential, and I have been saying for more than a year that the Ducati has very great potential, but not easy, not to understand but to use perfectly. During this season, some riders have been able to always use their potential better and better, and that is why we are now a few Ducatis in front, and that is very positive. »
This end of the season must be a great satisfaction for you after what you experienced during the summer?
« Exactly ! It's still to be confirmed tomorrow but the form is good. I feel fresh enough to hope for a good race tomorrow. And it is necessary to have a good winter, because I clearly lost time over several months and several races. But it's always a way to learn and not repeat for next year. There, technically, the fact of re-progressing allows me to understand even more things, and therefore normally this can only make me stronger. »
How is your right arm?
« The arm is fine. It was an operation that served well. Here, it turns left but my left arm doesn't hurt because there may be a way to control it differently. But I'm happy because it doesn't even cross my mind anymore when I'm riding, so that helps. »
Seeing the current domination of the Ducati, do you think that Fabio Quartararo has anything to worry about in his quest for a second consecutive title?
« Let’s hope! Let’s hope! This is Ducati's goal. I repeat, the bike has enormous potential, but where Fabio has been very strong this year is that when his teammates or the riders with the same bike started to have setbacks, he didn't not asked questions to say “perhaps the others are starting to be better and I am less well”. No, he ignored that and he continued to win his races and to be on the podium, and he got his title. So in that aspect, he was very strong and I think he has the ability to do it again next year. But everyone will evolve, we start from zero, but if we continue to evolve, the idea is that, me already being able to fight for the title, and Bagnaia the same, Miller will go there be, Martin is still doing his experiment but has crazy speed: so yes, on this aspect, normally we will always have a motor advantage, and even if we are a year ahead, his strategies will therefore almost be to have to leave , because when he finds himself fighting with us, we have a great advantage thanks to the effect of the engine, depending on the circuits and when we know how to use it. So we'll see but that's the goal! That's why Ducati puts out a lot of motorcycles! »
Results of Qualification 2 of the MotoGP Valencian Community Grand Prix:
Results of Qualification 1 of the MotoGP Valencian Community Grand Prix:
Credit Ranking: motogp.com
