Johann Zarco went to see us in the press room at Le Mans, before starting the Grand Prix Moto de France. The bicycle race with the other MotoGP pilots, the solutions found at the Jerez test, the Le Mans circuit: discover its answers before starting the most beautiful weekend of the year.
The Jerez test allowed you to meet after a difficult weekend in Spain: “Yes, exactly. The Jerez test made it possible to erase these bad sensations of the weekend a little. I couldn’t find what I had felt from the start of the year and it put my balls. And fortunately there was the test because we did something that, for example, last year, did not like it. That’s why it was not in the list of solutions. We may have thought that given my style change on this motorcycle, we had to try another option, simply suspension adjustment, and that freed me. It’s cool to find solutions thanks to simple things because in the event of worries in the future, normally, it should allow us to be much more reactive. »»
Not the engine tested by other pilots during Jerez tests: ” No not yet. I didn’t try it in Jerez, we work on other things. We have enough things to perform. The official team liked. I think that’s why they will continue to develop on it this weekend. »»
Choose between dry or wet track this weekend: “Rather dry. But, I hear that the rain can happen on Sunday. It can change the situation. But to continue pushing on the good sensations I have, I would like it to progress personally and get closer to the podium. Afterwards, if it rains, there are Top Guns like Miller and Marquez who have an immediate adaptation. And that, I know that if it happens, if I adapt as fast as them or as well as them, then maybe there are real chances of podium. »»
Its description of the Le Mans circuit: “Compared to Jerez, it is quite small. When we do Argentina, Qatar, Texas, we are on large circuits. There, we find this feeling a little smaller. But the track hangs better than in Jerez. And maybe that’s it, no doubt, that served me better. It is also a circuit on which there is still need to be good on acceleration. Maybe that’s why it happened to me in the past. Its particularity, we will say that there are still certain angle changes. You have to be of course on the motorcycle so as not to waste time in these angle changes. And what is a plus is the public! »»
His favorite parts of the Bugatti circuit: “I like blue Eses. And I also like the green garage. This is turn 8, turn 11-12. And afterwards, when you are comfortable, it’s true that the entrance to the Dunlop, it tips the motorcycle over 300 an hour. It’s always special. »»
The bicycle race this Thursday: “It was good, I was pretty happy. My Irish mechanic was like crazy for a month and a half. He wanted me to be fractional at home to prepare this time tower. I said to him: “Calm down, I want to be good on the motorcycle.” But my legs answered well anyway and we made the podium, it was beautiful. For the little tour we did with pilots, we said to ourselves: “We go quiet.” Because we felt that we had all already given well. Because casually, 5 minutes 40 thoroughly, it draws lactic acid and the goal is to be in good shape for the weekend. But in the end, they still had a sprint with Cavendish and it was just exceptional. We were over 50 an hour and Cavendish looked at us waiting. It is true that it was exceptional to see it in real life and to also see Marc Marquez, with a blow of blood, to go catch this little victory of Sprint. We really feel that it is a blood that has an ability to find energy all the time, when he wants. And that was beautiful to see. »»
