Johann Zarco shone during the first day of the Grand Prix MotoGP
Solidarity from Barcelona, even allowing itself to lead the Friday afternoon practice session for a long time before finishing it in a very good 4th position.
Less than three tenths of a second behind the fastest of the day, the French driver is fully enjoying this result which he hopes to confirm during qualifying, even if he expects more difficult races…
As usualwe report here his words during his debriefing, without the slightest formatting, and this evening directly transcribed from French.
The French touch today?
Johann Zarco : « Yeah, that's cool! Like I say, actually this is where I would like to be, where I can be. But actually I wasn't expecting it (laughs), so it feels good. »
Is it an addition to the fairing that you tried in Misano?
“Yeah, that already helps, the step we did after Misano, and afterwards I think that the sequence of all the races we did overseas taught me to ride the bike better too. So, I'm really trying to use these strengths, which I didn't do when I was here (last May). I started using the strengths of the bike in Germany, in Austria, at Silversone, so yeah, around mid-season, and I focused on that and told myself that it wasn't just bad, and then I managed to use it better anyway, when the bike evolved. And there, I'm so happy becauseI almost say that I could have done better, well it’s very good! »
How do you explain that this year the LCR drivers are somewhat leading the way at Honda in terms of results?
“For me, it's a small goal within the goal, to reach the top 10. I knew that if I reached the top 10, normally I could be the first Honda. Afterwards, Taka drives the bike really well, so I think that the fact that he stopped his career freed him at the end, he tried a little more. And like us, it doesn't matter much, as soon as someone makes 4 points, in fact they already make a big difference compared to the others. At the start of the year, we counted the points, and if we managed to get 2 points out of 4 races, it was grandiose. And so, when we started to get 4 or 5 points, I had already won 4 races. So I think that's why we were in front. »
With the lack of grip on a circuit like that, this result is a bit contradictory in the end…
“But on one lap there is grip with the new tire all the same, and here we have a new tire that is softer than the other time and I think that helps to exploiter the bike. »
Bradl is there this weekend as a wildcard, were you able to see a little of his bike?
“I didn’t see it at all. I know there will be new things, but I haven't noticed anything yet. »
What are the other strong points of this bike apart from its increasing passing speed?
“Uh, well that’s it (laughs). No, no, I think you can put a lot of angle on this bike, it's just not easy to do, but when you do it it works well. »
So, does that change your perspective for the weekend?
” Yeah ! It looks like there is at least the 2nd line playable, that is. And if it happens tomorrow, by improving the time again, well that will give chances for a nice race. To have. Really, I said at the start of the weekend, I'll take what comes, because here when you want that too much play against you. »
Do you expect to have more difficulty in the race than in a lap?
” I believe. Yeah yeah. This consistency is not easy to have, and when the tire deteriorates, the motorcycle changes behavior, and that is not fto the emergency room. »
Do you already know which tire you are going with?
“No, we don’t know yet? I don't know if the software will do the race, the sprint. We also don't know on the long run whether to use the medium or whether to use the hard. The very Hard, no, but I tried a Hard which is softer on the left, and so far it hasn't been great in sensation. It's cool, I think the air is cool and that doesn't help. »
You also put on a show off the track…
” Yes ! There was the auction there. I'm happy because we offered a helmet, and the auctions went for €3,100. It was a fight between 2 French people and it took a while to take off, but in the end they put on a great challenge and I even hugged the guy who won, because that made me
touched that finally it increases. Because the one who did the bidding wasn't a showman and he didn't motivate people (laughs), so it's good that the two French people were motivated. And so I did a somersault for the show. »
Did you expect this price?
“I said 3000, and it went to 3100. Once, at OM, we offered a combi and it went to 10,000, but those were rich people: a meal at OM, yeah, they were rich (laughs). »
Where do you see yourself upon arrival tomorrow afternoon?
” I don't know. »
MotoGP, Barcelona J1 : chronos
Ranking credit: MotoGP.com
