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 first day of the Spanish Grand Prix, delivered in English and French in the hospitality of the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team.
Johann zarco: “Today we had a lot of rain this morning, and for me it was good to discover the track for the first time in these conditions. You can start calmly, taking your time to understand the bike, the power, and the track. It was interesting because the feeling was good but the position was not very good because, in the end, the limit is so far, even in the wet: the tires and the bike require a lot of attacking and I need to 'a little time to control that. The feeling was positive, so for me it's just a question of time and work to improve.
In the afternoon, it was dry with occasional patches of humidity, but it dried up later, lap after lap, and I was happy to quickly be on the pace, not far from the best times, and still improving. We also made a modification to the bike because we had already planned it in Texas and it was very positive that this change also worked in Jerez which is a completely different circuit. This made me very satisfied because by not limiting myself to a single circuit, this modification will allow improvement throughout the season.
At the end, I encountered technical proofs. I heard a noise on the bike and I didn't want to attack because I was a little worried since if I attacked with this strange noise from the exhaust, I don't know, something technical, I'd was afraid of destroying something. It was better to have some wisdom, and even if I couldn't improve, it was better to stop. »
What is this modification that concerns the suspensions?
“Technically, I don’t know, but the feeling is always to work to have a stable bike. This way, when the bike is stable, I can move better. Going in this direction really gives me a better feeling and the time also improves. »
Does this work particularly when braking or accelerating?
“It works especially everywhere! »
Are you disappointed not to be in the top 10?
“I can't be angry because I need to stay calm whatever the situation, and this is once again a great lesson: when you are not in the lead or you have a technical problem, I watch Valentino who smiles all the time. It might be a forced smile but being able to sit still, knowing that you have the team and everything will be okay. Above all, with this very powerful bike, being nervous makes everything more difficult. So it's a good job and even if I can't improve tomorrow, it will still be positive to work on ourselves. »
It seems that you are another one of those drivers who perform better in the race than in testing…
" No no no. Even in Texas, the testing wasn't that bad, right? (laughs). And even in Moto2, you have to be strong from FP1 if you want to have a good race. It's a world championship level, this can be the case from Moto3, and even more in Moto2, and even more in MotoGP. You just have to attack from FP1 until the race. If you feel like you're not in control in FP1, it means you'll be missing something in the race. »
But some drivers like Morbidelli say you have something special in racing. Do you know what they mean?
" No. In Moto2, I felt comfortable, yes. Maybe compared to them, I damaged the tire less, and therefore at the end of the race, I could sometimes go faster. Maybe also when Moto2, from FP1, I attacked like hell. »
You said we should always look forward and progress. Are you expecting the same thing here this weekend?
" Yes. Keep working and looking forward. We have to be the best rookie, we have to score big points. I wanted to be in the top 10 and I was in the top 5 twice, so yes, try to be in the top 5 or top 6, and score points. The more laps I do, the better it will be, even as here, with mixed conditions is difficult: I am improving and my experience is growing. »
After your excellent start to the season, we arrive in Europe where there are more and more expectations from you. How are you going to handle all this?
“I’m going to give Mathilde (communications officer) a few claws (laughs) and she’s going to manage all of this at the age of 20. She will push everyone. More seriously, already during the three overseas races, the simple MotoGP status was changing things. People recognize you a lot more and you are already more in demand. We arrive in Europe and it's even more, so you have to know how to live with it and tell yourself that it doesn't happen every day. We must derive happiness and joy from all these requests. Afterwards, the most difficult thing will be when we are not first, when we are not in the lead and when we are not in the easiest conditions on the track; It will be necessary, in work, to remain as positive as when meeting the fans. This is the most difficult exercise, and it is even more difficult to do in Europe because, for example, it is perhaps only 300 m to go simply from the trucks to your room, and you are concentrated because you want to work, but you have to know how to quickly open the drawer to open up to people because they are there to support you and they can't see you every day. Then you have to concentrate again, and there, it's really working on yourself. »
Are you counting on Laurent (Fellon) to reframe you?
" Yes exactly. I have no doubt about that (laughs). It feels good that he is there because, for example today, the feeling is not bad but we are not in front. It's still really tight and everyone is going pretty fast. It increases the stress, it increases the pressure, and he's there, and when he says "I've never seen you look so good", it allows you to say "well, everything didn't work out." end” and that’s why there’s no need to stress. I have complete confidence in this eye and afterward, it also manages the guests we may have, and there is also the Tech3 organization which allows us to manage our weekends correctly. »
Cal Crutchlow explained to us yesterday that in Austin, you braked 30 meters later, and he concluded that you were tired. Were you tired or were you managing your front tire?
“30m later?” »
That's what he said...
“Because if I brake 30 m later, it’s because I’m managing the front tire less!” »
Sorry, 30 meters earlier.
“There was fatigue at the end of the race, there was also the fact that we are almost at the end. Yes, I feel my front tire getting tired, and 4 or 5… I feel like I can't escape, so you reason and say to yourself “don't make a mistake”. And the simple fact of starting to reason still gives you a little leeway because you have almost done the hardest part and you don't want to fail. It's too stupid to fall at that moment so yes, all of a sudden, you start to have a small margin. So fatigue plus margin, that results from that. »
You were one of the fittest Moto2 riders. Do you feel that MotoGP is even more physically demanding?
“Yes, I believe that it is the knowledge of the motorcycle and the management of all the elements that we have, that is to say the differences in tires, managing your electronic assistance, your suspensions, which make whether or not we save energy on the motorcycle. And right now, I'm just happy and I want to go for it, but when I compare my performance to Valentino, it's clear that he spent a lot less energy on his Texas race. And that's why, being 11 years younger, I'm still more tired than him at the end of the race. 11 years younger, I must be in better shape! So it's just all these new elements that require a lot more connections to the head, and it's tiring. »
The battle with Rossi, if it happens 10 times, do you do it 10 times in the same way?
“If I have to do it again... no, maybe attack a little further so as not to lose contact with the Hondas. Because it made him regain contact, it made me completely lose it. I still felt good, two laps later, but you can't say that they were "stems" in front (laughs), so it was hard to catch up with them and I gave everything. But if I don't want to lose contact with those in front, recalculate the maneuver, but if not for the "pass the idol" aspect, at least there are no mental blockages, and that's up to redo. »
What are the circumstances, at the start of the season, that make you say that repeating the Moto2 title was really the good idea?
“The management of a race, the management of a race weekend, that is to say we renew the Moto2 title, we have the same team and the same bike, we can say to ourselves that it is well and that's all there is to it!
But ultimately, to continue winning, we really had to put in the blood. Every time, you put your life on the line. And that, when you have a championship title, it's hard to say to yourself “Why put your life on the line? I have the capabilities, I can manage.” And in fact, there is no real management. You have to give everything, “all in”! You really put all your energy into it, and then you calculate. And that taught me how to do that, and so now that I'm in MotoGP, and what's more, what I have to learn, so no calculations. You put all your energy in and then you see.
Repeating a Moto2 title… Because there, I could have lots of excuses: new team, new bike, I have lots of things to learn. And in fact, these are excuses to rest. At the end of the day, you're on the bike and if you have the will, you give it everything you've got. In Moto2, when I repeated the title, all these elements were so managed that I could say “it only depends on you”. Well now, I'm learning lots of new things in MotoGP, I'm able to think the same thing. I think it helps me clear the road and make a clear path. »
Ranking of the first day of free practice:
1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 39.420s
2. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 39.964s +0.544s
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 40.045s +0.625s
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 40.291s +0.871s
5. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 40.378s +0.958s
6. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 40.379s +0.959s
7. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.392s +0.972s
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 40.428s +1.008s
9. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 40.479s +1.059s
10. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 40.573s +1.153s
11. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.639s +1.219s
12. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 40.698s +1.278s
13. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 40.773s +1.353s
14. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 40.915s +1.495s
15. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 41.019s +1.599s
16. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 41.165s +1.745s
17. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 41.165s +1.745s
18. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 41.432s +2.012s
19. Takuya Tsuda JPN Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 41.887s +2.467s
20. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 41.905s +2.485s
21. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 41.909s +2.489s
22. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 42.515s +3.095s
23. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 42.630s +3.210s
