Zarco regrets the "big changes in behavior" of his Honda in Aragon

From the start of this new race weekend, Johann Zarco knew that the task would prove much more difficult than at the last two rounds. Indeed, the vibrations experienced by Honda are deep-rooted, but the Frenchman had managed to cope with them until then to secure a victory and a podium finish, both in two consecutive rounds.

This weekend, the exacerbated difficulties got the better of Johann Zarco's race, speaking to Canal+ after the Sprint. “The start was actually pretty good. I managed not to spin, but that funnel in the first turn didn't allow me to go right, he details. I decided to stay on the inside, but the feeling on the bike isn't great, so I don't dare attack. If I attack, I don't know if I'll hit someone, or even manage to get through the corner. So I'm staying conservative. Enena Bastianini probably played it a little more aggressive. Given his position at the start, he thought he had nothing to lose. It went through, but I don't know if it will go through tomorrow."

Zarco can't find his way this weekend

Clear-eyed about his team's situation, and deep in negotiations with Honda to take the factory bike for 2026, Johann Zarco remains focused on progress this year. In this research process, performance variations are often a given.

"I thought I could come back if the bike behaved well but that wasn't the case., regretted the Frenchman despite a smile displayed. It's a complicated circuit, it's very slippery. This soft tire could have done the race, but I experienced big changes in the bike's behavior with these vibrations returning when there hadn't been any for a few races. We know that this development phase sometimes leads to races like this where we are non-existent."

Ambitious in all circumstances, the winner of the French Grand Prix is ​​hoping for calmer circumstances to pull off a masterclass on Sunday. "Tomorrow might be better. I'd like to take some points. Clearly, the top 10 level wasn't for us today. Now, will tomorrow's medium tire be better? Will the bike's handling be better? Then everything will be better, he hopes. In any case, we see in the data that I'm putting a lot more lean, but it doesn't want to come. The engineers will work on it. If we can simply get better behavior from the bike, that can already give hope for the race."

12^e On the grid, Johann Zarco is aiming for the top 10 to continue his current good run despite everything.

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