Finishing this first FP1 of the 2017 season 1,5 seconds behind the best time would already be a very satisfactory result for a Rookie. But finishing eighth, 8/10 behind Marc Márquez second, is more than encouraging for Johann Zarco who, let's remember, is also one of the rare drivers not to have crashed during the off-season.
For his move to the next class, the Frenchman applied his usual and progressive way of working, even if the short duration of the maximum potential of his tires does not make his task easy.
However, as he says in his official press release, his objective for Friday will be to get closer to the extraordinarily fast Maverick Vinales: »Tomorrow's goal will be to reduce the gap with Vinales, because he is the best and also a Yamaha rider. So although he has more experience, I could stay inside the top 10 if I can get closer to him, and that's important for the rest of the weekend. “
But, as usual, we also report here the entire press conference he gave in the team's hospitality Monster Yamaha Tech 3 at the end of this first day in Qatar.
Johann zarco : “For this first day, I'm happy that we planned with the team to try some good tires, because you never know if you won't have bad weather for the second and third sessions, and that's so pretty good to be in the top 10 already now.
When I started the track grip wasn't as good as in testing but I wasn't far off the pace. I mean I could be close to the fastest and it wasn't so easy because the bike had a bit of movement on the track since the track wasn't very good. The bike was moving and, as always during the first session, I had a little trouble. Then, little by little, I found good sensations and took good information, and we have good tracks to work on. it's dry tomorrow.
Otherwise, nothing special. Vinales was extremely fast, so I think the track is good, although I think it wasn't as good as during testing, He is already as fast as during testing but I think he was able to use the soft tire from the first lap. At the moment, this is my weak point. When I have a new tire, I need two laps to understand it well, but after two or three laps it is already less efficient than during the first lap. It's always good to take your time but if you really want to go faster and faster, it's necessary for me to have a faster pace on the first lap. “
You share data with Jonas, and you are both very close…
“I haven't had a good look yet because we just got off the bike, but we're not bad. It is also sometimes good to watch the official drivers but we have more laps to see our teammate. He didn't have the same tires so I think I can learn from him like he can learn from me, and maybe that can be very good for the season (laughs). “
What were your feelings for this first official session compared to the test?
" No stress. Some drivers can have stress but my biggest stress was last year because I was the champion and everyone was waiting for me. I was way more nervous than I am now. “
Does learning how to use a new MotoGP tire take a lot of time?
»It takes a lot of confidence, a lot of confidence. We have to attack straight away, and I need to take the measure. Even if you take the measurement in three laps, we can say that it's already good, but you have to know how to take it in the warm-up lap. When you do it it's okay, but it really takes a lot of confidence to go there. I need to brake harder and harder, and harder and harder, and then I reach my limit, but to have it right away, from the first lap, you really have to let go and be super confident. on the bike, and as it was still a first session in 10 days, I had a little difficulty doing it. “
Was the wind very bothersome?
» We didn't really feel it. And the bike is still heavy and stable enough to have no problems with the wind. “
Compared to the tests, did you find the same sensations straight away?
» Not exactly the same sensations, but I was pleasantly surprised not to be far from my test times, and that was the most positive thing. I feel that the track is a little more slippery, especially at the front in the corners, the front can go a little, but the good thing is that Vinales had a great time, which means that the conditions are still good enough to gain confidence on the bike. He has the same bike as me and it’s a good reference to say “go ahead, it’s okay”. “
As a new driver, are you far from the mark?
» No, we have the advantage of riding 10 days ago and that's the advantage of the Yamaha: it is very homogeneous. As Laurent says, “if you touch the bike it's really to get the last tenths, but first, work on yourself! ". “
Qatar J1 Ranking :
1. Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 54.316s [Lap 17/18] 335km/h
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 54.912s +0.596s [17/18] 338km/h
3. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 55.210s +0.894s [15/16] 338km/h
4. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 55.587s +1.271s [15/15] 333km/h
5. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 55.607s +1.291s [15/17] 343km/h
6. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 55.624s +1.308s [16/16] 334km/h
7. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 55.639s +1.323s [15/15] 334km/h
8. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 55.792s +1.476s [17/18] 334km/h
9. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 55.799s +1.483s [18/18] 340km/h
10. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 55.872s +1.556s [14/15] 332km/h
11. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 55.873s +1.557s [5/17] 343km/h
12. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 56.000s +1.684s [16/16] 340km/h
13. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 56.027s +1.711s [16/17] 335km/h
14. Alvaro Bautista ESP Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 56.128s +1.812s [17/19] 344km/h
15. Karel Abraham CZE Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 56.399s +2.083s [14/14] 338km/h
16. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 56.419s +2.103s [8/15] 342km/h
17. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 56.453s +2.137s [10/16] 335km/h
18. Alex Rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 56.502s +2.186s [15/16] 335km/h
19. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 56.725s +2.409s [17/18] 336km/h
20. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 56.725s +2.409s [13/14] 342km/h
21. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 57.630s +3.314s [11/16] 335km/h
22. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 57.887s +3.571s [12/14] 331km/h
23. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 58.114s +3.798s [17/17] 333km/h
