After explaining to us the genesis of his very wonderful initiative at Cartagena during the first part of this interview, then the advantages of the Spanish circuit said in the second part, as well as his pleasure in sharing his experience with the youngest in the third part and his victorious adventure in Japan in the fourth part,
Johann Zarco took some time again to explain to us in a fifth part what clicked him during his 2024 MotoGP season aboard the Honda RC213V of the Castrol LCR team.
He then addresses the future, with its disappointments and its hopes…
There is still a big change in 2025, which is that now Honda has a very solid test team, with all the signings that were made during the year. Do you think this is something that will change things?
“I hope, I hope!” Afterwards, new blood with Aleix Espargaro, that could be very good, and to move things forward too, with a different vision, it's Romano (Albesiano). And that, for the moment it cannot yet, let's say, come into action until 2025 has started. So curious in fact after the first test in Malaysia, even the shakedown ultimately, to see how things will progress from there. Because currently the 2025 project is not doing any better than the 2024. And that means that in fact, it's as if 2024 hadn't served enough, because ultimately the 2025 project is the same, or even worse. . »
Did you discover that at the private test in Jerez?
« Oui. »
Is there still a little positive?
“Finally, let's say that in the 2025 project, there is no idea of Romano that has come into play for the moment. It's really purely on Honda's work data from this year that there was this project 25, but in the Japanese mentality, that is to say it's different, but it's the same.
«
If we summarize, in Barcelona you had a new chassis, and in Jerez you had chassis and engine.
“That’s it. »
So the basis, or at least the prototype of the 2025 project, which in your eyes does not offer anything more. Is that it?
“Yeah, there you go. In the end we did not have a real chronological result, the one which would have made us say “Oh yeah, that won us at least 5 to 7/10, so it gives us a new dynamic”. No. And we can't stay behind that much. That, even if in driving, with adjustments, we can always go for something extra at some point, like my super time in Malaysia in qualifying, in Q1, the 57.6, and finally when I do the 57.6 and I say to myself “Wow, I’ve reached a milestone, I’m getting closer to the leaders”there is Pecco who is 56.1, I think. So, he sticks to me for another 1.5 seconds, and suddenly you say to yourself “Okay, we’re behind”.
Aleix Espargaro tried the 2025 project?
“He only did the 25th, actually he didn’t try the 24th.”
Can we speak on the microphone about his comments, or not, because he doesn't have the right to speak, so we don't transmit?
“No, because he is not allowed to speak, so it is better not to transmit. »
The test pilots, they're doing tests at the moment…
“Yes, I saw that Nakagami is in Malaysia, but so I don’t have any feedback. It doesn't help me, in fact, to have feedback, because it doesn't change my job and what I have to do on the bike, whatever bike I have. It doesn't change anything. But yes, in all cases, it works, it rolls. Nakagami, he's in full swing we'll say: he has the feeling, so it's good that he's testing there at the moment. And it's true that it's good, it avoids having to move the European driver to Malaysia, it's more Nakagami who is good for testing there. »
You always keep this approach which we could summarize by saying “I don't want to know what's different on the bike. I take the bike and I ride, and I tell you what I think”?
“Yeah, because I want to stay a pilot. Because at one point, let's say we do things only through anger, only through desire, well we really need to have as little information as possible in our heads, to come back later to this side, we're going to say “the less I think, the better I move forward”or “they didn’t know it was impossible, so they did it”. But there you go, when you don't know, it's better! »
Are you going to test with Somkiat Chantra in January?
” Yes ! We're going to test. In fact, we're going to do 2 days with him on the CBR. It gives me a warm workout in Buriram, it finally crosses the January period, almost a week, the time to make the return trip and all that. But at least it's warm. »
Is it to frame it a little?
“Yes, here it is, to try to see how he can adapt and if I can help. »
To be continued very quickly…
Interview with Johann Zarco
Interview with Johann Zarco
Interview with Johann Zarco
