Zarco: “On this circuit, you enjoy it better when it’s dry” 

In 2019, Johann Zarco made his return to Phillip Island after parting ways with KTM a few weeks earlier. The Frenchman was called in as reinforcements by the LCR team to replace Takaaki Nakagami, who had to undergo shoulder surgery.

This year, he will race on the Australian track aboard a Ducati. “As with Thailand and Japan, it’s been three years since we last came here,” he recalls. I'm glad to be back in this country and enjoying the place. Overall, Phillip Island is the best place to ride, because there is a magnificent view, the circuit is interesting, but also because everyone sleeps on the island, so it is 15 minutes by car, compared to 1 hour in Japan." 

Phillip Island has been hit by rain for a few weeks and the track is soggy with huge puddles in places, like around turn 3. “It seems like it's been raining for four weeks and this humidity is very heavy on me,” confides Zarco. Some say it will be dry and I hope so. Even though I can be good in the wet, on this circuit you benefit better when it's dry. »

Showers are expected on the weekend's schedule, but that's not what worries Zarco the most. “If it rains, but it’s 25°C, we will have good conditions,” he emphasizes. The problem when it rains is that it's 15 or 16°C and it's a bit cold for the tires. The circuit being very fast, it is difficult to keep the tires at temperature. In the wet, when the tires are hot, the grip is incredible. Here, in the wet, it's tricky, because it's very cold and the circuit is fast. »

“I couldn’t win in Thailand” – Johann Zarco

During his press briefing, Zarco returned to the race in Thailand during which he interrupted his comeback behind Francesco Bagnaia. “I couldn’t win,” he replies. Mathematically, by being one second faster, with four laps to go and 2.7 seconds to make up, you can win the race. But driving a second faster than the others isn't so simple, and when you overtake, you lose almost half a second. When you have to pass the first two drivers, it's a little more difficult. Yes, mathematically I could have won, but I saw that I was too far away to do it in three rounds. It was a race that I could win because the conditions were good for me. If the track had dried earlier, I would have had a bigger advantage. But it dried a little late and I was slow at first. I missed the victory and preferred to stay there. »