Johann Zarco fears return of Honda's weaknesses in Japan

The Indonesian Grand Prix saw the rebirth of Johann Zarco on his Honda. For the first time this season, the Frenchman was seen fighting for the top 10 on a regular basis, engaging in battles involving riders from other brands.

To achieve this, the new aerodynamics introduced by Honda at Misano helped the LCR rider. The Cannes rider nevertheless fears that this is due to the characteristics of the Mandalika track, which is low in grip and composed of fast corners, on which Honda's performance deficit was slightly erased.

Zarco therefore fears that it will be difficult for him to repeat this feat in Japan, a track with very different curves, which requires excellent corner exit, the weak point highlighted by all the brand's drivers during the last weekend of competition.

"We thought about it, Zarco told the media after the Indonesian Grand Prix. Our biggest disadvantage is acceleration, even at the start. Instead of going forward, we pitch up too much. In Motegi, it will be brake – acceleration.

Zarco ready to seize all opportunities

Despite everything, the Tricolore remains hopeful, and already has ideas. To try to mask this weakness, it will try to exploit the advantages conferred by the brand's new fairing.

"Afterwards I made a big step forward in braking, so I'm curious to see if this advantage will allow me to gain more time than the disadvantages make me lose, he continues. We'll see. In any case on this track, when you think about the layout, you only lose time in one place in seventeen corners, to sum up. That's what gave me a much better chance of hanging on. 

I knew there were opportunities overseas, I couldn't have known that Mandalika was one before I arrived, but jI took it, I'm happy" adds Johann Zarco.

It remains to be seen how Honda's pace will compare to its rivals at Motegi, as the marque will be contesting its home Grand Prix.

The race should in any case be less grueling than it was in Indonesia, where Johann Zarco was among the many riders to complain of dehydration after Sunday's long event. "I think I drank until about halfway through the race. After I had nothing left. So in the end, when here veux attack, or put more angle, you ne I don't know if your lucid and it's a bit hard."

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