Zarco: “We missed something this weekend”

After taking pole position on the Portimão circuit a week ago and finishing on the podium behind his compatriot fabio quartararo, Johann Zarco experienced a very different weekend in Andalusia. 

First forced to go through Q1, the Riviera finally managed to qualify in sixth position on the grid. On the first lap of the race, he was in ninth place. He will keep this place for eight more loops before making a mistake. “I caught Bezzecchi, but I couldn't take the advantage because it was very difficult to overtake,” admits Zarco. Just before I fell, maybe he was starting to suffer a little bit, and I felt like I could probably get the upper hand. So I just tried to prepare well for turn 5 and brake well in the next one, but I lacked grip on entry and I lost the front. I couldn't catch myself and it was better to fall. »

No such save for @JohannZarco1! ️

The Frenchman is OUT! 💥#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/nbFwYKljoC

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 1, 2022

Zarco confides that he was missing something this weekend to make the difference. He will take advantage of the official test on Monday on the same track to find out what was wrong. “It's a shame, but like I said, we missed something here. It's positive that Pecco won. It will give good information to Ducati. But it's a good way to see that when something is missing you can't do everything in your own style and for me that was the problem today. I'll try tomorrow to find what I missed. It seems that we have worked well and grown properly, but not enough to fight in the race (…). You don't have to worry, you always have to give your all until it comes. If I try to fix it technically or think about it, I'm going to go backwards. The sport side first to get fully involved. » 

It is on the entrance to the curve that Zarco admits to encountering difficulties. “I can't turn the bike properly,” he says. I can't release the brakes as I want and that's what's very difficult. »

And he added about Monday's tests: “All the times will be fast and that allows you to be more comfortable on the bike. All the tests here are going well, but with experience I know how I want to feel in the corner. I also saw what Bezzecchi did. He had a very good race. With the same bike, I see that I don't do the same thing. When I catch up with what others can have, then maybe I will take a big step forward. »

In around ten days, Zarco will find himself at Le Mans for the seventh meeting of the season on his home soil. “Reset, as usual, because it’s always a challenge everywhere,” he says. Hope to do well because there will be this extra motivation of being in France. »