By reading our columns regularly, you already know most of what happened today, concerning MotoGP news in general and that of John Zarco in particular.
But as you can see on a daily basis, we make it our duty, as often as possible, to produce “real exclusive material” rather than basing our activity on a single, always approximate translation of articles from the foreign press.
It is with this in mind that we very regularly offer you scoops, interviews, technical articles and full reports of pilot declarations.
And it is of course in this last category, sometimes comprehensive, sometimes more concise, that our complete and exclusive series of debriefings appears. “raw and hot” de John Zarco with, today, his statements at the end of the second day of the Spanish Grand Prix, delivered in English and French in the hospitality of the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team.
Johann zarco: “Regarding this Saturday, I did a good FP3 and the feeling was very good. I had a good time but all the drivers were able to be fast at least on one lap, so in the end saving Q2 wasn't easy, but I pushed and it worked well . The feeling was great, as were the conditions, totally dry. In qualifying, I think the overheated track was perhaps a little slower than in the morning, but we worked well with the team, again on confidence, and we made a safe bike to be able to attack with.
I had a good qualifying, and starting from sixth position is good because all the guys are so close, they're going to stay that way for a lap. So you need to maintain your position because afterwards the race is usually a different story regarding pace. Now I just hope to make a good start and quickly be in the rhythm with the best riders. I think Márquez and Pedrosa are a cut above, just like Vinales is very consistent, but if I can try to follow them it will be a key for the race. »
Do you think that now you can really push throughout the race?
“Only the race will answer that question, but I'm working on it to be ready and feel comfortable from mid-race to the end. So we'll see tomorrow, but that's what we're working for. »
Do you think you have a better rhythm than some who are in front of you like, for example, Iannone?
" Yes. Yes. Looking at the names, Iannone and Crutchlow. Maybe I can't go any faster, and that's why I want to be strong and be with the other guys quickly. »
What will your strategy be for the first round?
“No matter what, you have to be strong from the first lap, from the first corners, try to make a fast start. Everyone brakes well in this category, so you have to manage as well as possible. »
Will Valentino’s comments about your “Moto2 style” change your behavior?
“No, no, no, because if I start thinking, I’ll really waste too much time. We analyzed it well and it was really something that happens in racing. There you go, not too many questions. »
We expect an even warmer track tomorrow. Do you think the Yamahas will be better?
" I don't know. If we are slower, don't get stressed. If we are slower because all drivers are slow. And I don't know if the Yamahas will be better in these conditions or not. I don't have enough experience to compare (different) factories. »
From the side of the track, we see you much more comfortable on this track than in Moto2…
" Highly possible. My mistake, in Moto2, was to be perhaps a bit aggressive, because I have a fairly fluid style, but sometimes I can be aggressive when I accelerate. And I see that on race weekends where, in general, it is rather hot and there is less grip, that could have penalized me compared to winter testing. And there, as the bike in general has more grip than a Moto2, it helped me to relax and concentrate on the good things. »
Do you have an explanation for the dominance of the Hondas?
“I look more at the man. Pedrosa and Márquez feel good. Márquez is always impressive to follow, and it's a treat. I tell myself that the goal is to have the feeling he has, because, when he needs to, he attacks knowing how to play just to the limit he needs. And Pedrosa does it too, but it’s less visible. There you go, it's this example of Márquez: he has incredible rage and that delights me. So I see more the pilot aspect than the motorcycle aspect. »
You followed Dani. Did this teach you anything about racing?
“I had a hard tire at that time, so when I wanted to relax, I sometimes lost the rear, and at the time, it's not easy. He always has this very own style and we almost have a feeling that it is not going very quickly, and finally after one lap, he is further, after two laps, he is even further.
Learned things for the race? I think so. In any case, the brain is always active and everything we see is useful. »
The quality you had in Moto2, of having a very efficient second part of the race, can you transpose it to MotoGP?
“Not yet, I think.” Not yet because I need to be at 130, 140% so much to be sixth, that it's hard to maintain 130%. »
Did you go into heat, because from the outside, it seems like it's very controlled?
" Yes yes. Do we have to play with XXXX? because even if from the outside it seems very fluid, it actually is but you really have to angle the bike as much as possible, almost at the moment when you are going to slide forward, straighten it out, and all this with a very, very strong intensity. It's difficult. It's part of the job but I'm at my own limit in any case. Afterwards, there is margin in sight, and so much the better. »
How did you do the second time?
“Thanks to the rain session, FP1, we took the liberty of putting on a new tire because the hard tire didn't fit at all. We had to change to another tire and we only had a new tire. I think it was the new tire that allowed me to do that. »
The idea is to do more or less the same thing as in Qatar?
" Yes. I was leaving 4 in Qatar, now I'm leaving 6, so well within. Afterwards, we'll leave, maybe do second or third. The goal is to get off to a good start to make your way into the first and second turns. Afterwards, the ideal is to leave like in Qatar. I did some tests and there, the gear is much shorter and the gearbox is different. On each track, the feeling changes at the start because the gear ratios are not the same. »
