Yesterday, on the evening of the first day of testing in Australia, we left a Hervé Poncharal very satisfied with the performances of his two drivers.
Today, with his two machines in the same second as the best, we find him in the same state of mind and even point out to him that his announced objective has therefore already been achieved...
Hervé Poncharal: “Yes, seen like that… (Laughs) but wait, because if tomorrow everyone improves by two seconds and we don’t, we won’t be there. But more seriously, and sincerely, today again, at the risk of seeming boring and repetitive, we had another great day. The track conditions were better for everyone because the temperatures were still pleasant, but there was less wind. However, the wind had really disrupted the party yesterday.
As for Tech3, Jonas took advantage of the very good conditions at the start of the day to set, like the day before, a very good time, since he broke the 30 barrier. Afterwards, a bit identical to what happened on the first day, they decided to work on positions and lots of things that you don't have time to do during the season. And it's good, especially when you're new to the category, to clearly test everything you can test in positions, saddles, footrests, handlebars, etc., so you don't have to come back to it. In practice, he did a lot of tests to get back to what he had at the start, but it was not bad to evacuate everything else because we won't have to do it during the season. In the afternoon, the wind picked up and the conditions were less good, which meant he focused on tire testing. For us, apart from the positions and the tires, we don't have much to try, we don't have any development to do for Yamaha, that's not our mission.
He therefore finds himself seventh time at 8/10, and especially 4/10 from the second time since Vinales made a big hole in the second.
On the other side of the box, for Johann, it's very typical because our two pilots have always been extremely close to each other but on the other hand both use methods... I'm not going to say radically different, but symptomatic of what both do. Jonas is someone who gets into the game very quickly, who sets great times very quickly, while Johann is a little more 'diesel'; it's his way of working and what made him strong. It's his DNA. We talked about it yesterday, Philippe Island was not his favorite circuit and he was therefore curious but a little apprehensive when he arrived. And there, we really feel that he is getting better and better in his head, he is really happy because this apprehension is dissipating and he is going from strength to strength, which is absolutely the right method for a Rookie during winter testing. He's doing better and better on the bike, and he even likes Philippe Island more and more, which is very good news. He had his time at the end of the day, when the track and weather conditions were far from being as good as those in the morning. The wind had picked up, which makes us say that we are not bad at all for the end of the afternoon, and that, in my opinion, if it had been in this state of osmosis with his machine in the morning, he would have been even closer and better placed on the timesheet. But once again, this is not of major importance. Especially when you see how tight it is. He would have been better placed but I would say that is secondary. In any case, he is very happy with everything he has been able to test with Michelin, he loves to ride and collect tricks and sensations. He did 88 laps and he enjoys doing long runs. He is someone who needs that to grow as a MotoGP rider. And that's what he's doing. »
Yes, 88 laps, let's remember because we tend to forget, it's still around at least three races in a row...
" Yes. It proves that the guys are in good physical condition and that they have the desire, because when after 80 laps, you are still doing times, that means that you have kept the motivation and physical freshness to be able to get there. .
So for Tech3, we are very happy and all I can hope for today is that day 3 is as good and constructive as days 1 and 2 were. What I said to my guys, we had almost covered what we had to do. We are not going to reinvent anything on the third day, we have no development to do with Yamaha, so ride when you want to ride and how you want to ride and when you feel GOOD. We're not going to make a news item on the third day, that would be a shame. »
Aside from Tech3, what are your impressions of this second day in Australia?
“We see that Alex Rins is arriving, he is there. Yesterday, we knew that Iannone had set a tight time and had only done one good lap, the rest being rather a little more complicated. We also know that it was more or less the same scenario for him in Malaysia. And even if it's for minimal gaps, despite everything, the fact of finding Rins who is a Rookie in front of his leader is also something that is interesting to see. The fact of seeing that today, even if we obviously cannot draw conclusions, that Folger and Rossi are at the same time, is also interesting.
We also see that the young Yamaha rider, because he is still very young, is there, and this shows that you do not need many years to be able to be in the game. I am very happy to see this because it validates the fact that, when we give young people the means and the equipment, they are there. And then it also validates the fact that Moto2 is not a category where you learn nothing and is as bad as what has been said by some as we have sometimes read. »
Conversely, it seems that Jorge Lorenzo needs time to adapt to his new machine…
“I'm not in the Ducati clan, but I have enormous respect for the rider Jorge Lorenzo. We worked with him at Yamaha for many years, we had access to his data, we were able to see the quality of his riding, and the power of the man. This is something that I observe like you, he is at 1,3 seconds while Bautista is at 0,5 seconds. He is therefore 8/10 from Bautista and 7/10 from Dovizioso, but we are not going to draw too hasty conclusions because, already tomorrow, he would be able to make us look like idiots if we said negative things. What I find positive, for the moment, is that, despite the fact that he is not in front, everything that transpires in terms of communication remains very positive. We don't feel panicked. Whereas I remember that, at Yamaha, when he had doubts, it showed straight away. So it's positive, even if, it's obvious, no one expected him to be 1,3 seconds behind the best time and far from being the best Ducati after seven days of testing. »
So let’s wait until the last day tomorrow to start providing a little overview…
“Yes, and you certainly remember what I told you at the time of Malaysia, that for me the two favorites on paper for the battle for the title would be Vinales and Márquez. And we still find them in Australia. Valentino had a great time yesterday, we talked about it, even if we know how, and even today, he's there.
He doesn't look very happy...
“Yes, but neither did yesterday: as it was second time, that hid the thing a little bit. They tried different bikes because it's obvious that when you're in a team, you share the work, but it's out of the question to imagine that Maverick Vinales has superior support or has access to things that don't. Valentino would not be entitled. He remains Number One anyway, they are both Number One, that has always been the case in the Factory Yamaha team, but it is obvious that he is Number One. There is no fire at home but we simply see that the wheel is turning and that young people are arriving, and that you do not necessarily need to be 15 years old in MotoGP to function. In any case, what amazes me, coming back to my two drivers, but also Alex Rins who is doing a great job, is that they are already among drivers who have enormous experience. So it's very, very beautiful what all these pilots are doing, and frankly, I didn't expect them to have such a party so early.
So the objective of leaving Australia in the same second as the best has been achieved for the moment, and if we achieve it tomorrow, we will have done our job, we will have accomplished and fulfilled our mission, and all that will remain is to refine all this on the Qatar circuit. »
So, provocatively, we are forced to ask if you hope it rains tomorrow?
(Laughs). Absolutely not ! Because once again, the ranking, even if it is the subject of our conversation, is of little importance. It is very important for Johann and Jonas to do laps, and we are perhaps more than anyone else in need of laps. We need driving and information, so no, I don't want it to rain tomorrow at all. We have to ride and I can tell you that the last thing our drivers want is for it to rain tomorrow! »
Thank you Hervé, and see you tomorrow…
