Zarco: “It was very complicated to keep the rhythm”

After qualifying, Johann Zarco already admitted that the podium was going to be difficult and the Frenchman was right. After missing his start, he found himself 12th in the first round. Although he was able to climb back to ninth position, he fell again to finish in 13th place, four seconds behind Takaaki Nakagami. 

Upon arrival, Zarco said he lacked something to play up front. “It was very difficult, I felt like I didn’t have the pace for the podium,” he said. Something was missing that we couldn't find and it was confirmed during the race. It was very difficult to keep the pace and as time went on, I couldn't join in the fight because I was losing too much ground in too important places. It doesn't matter much, but the lack of balance I had on the bike today meant that we weren't in the good group. »

Despite this 13th place after finishing second last week at the Sachsenring, Zarco draws positives from it. “I'm half disappointed, because it's good to resist, to take these three points and when I look at the ranking and I'm still third, it's encouraging,” he underlines. When it's a difficult result like that, it's proof that the sensations must be even better. Even when I think they're not bad, when I see the others, I notice that my feelings can be even better. You will have to be very careful to find the right balance like Pecco can have. »

“It's no fun to exhaust yourself to finish 13^e, but we see that it is difficult for everyone”

Zarco enters the summer break as the highest ranked Ducati rider overall in third position. With 114 points on the clock, he is only eight lengths ahead of Francesco Bagnaia, winner at Assen. “We will have to be very careful to find the right balance like Pecco can have,” judge Zarco. Bezzecchi was good from the start. From the start of the weekend, I quickly noticed it when I was behind him. Finally, what I noticed among its strong points, I didn't manage to find over the weekend and in the race, it was felt. Too bad, it's not fun to exhaust yourself to finish 13th, but we can see that it's difficult for everyone. »

Despite this poor performance, Zarco calmly approaches the five weeks of respite before the next meeting at Silverstone. “We need to rest, have a good summer and come back fully,” he said. Depending on the conditions, it's something that changes and we won't be able to ride the bike for five weeks. You don't have to worry. I am both disappointed to end this first part like that, but not so much when looking at the championship. We don’t ruminate too much and we move forward (…). »