Best start to the MotoGP season ever for Johann Zarco. But don’t talk to him about redemption.”I made a decision years ago, now I’m here thanks to Ducati.”
Johann Zarco is undoubtedly one of the great protagonists of the double MotoGP round in Qatar. After a few complex years, here he is with a double second place on the scoresheet that is worth the momentary championship leadership. It is his best start to the season ever, not even in the lower classes he had ever won two podiums in the first two opening events of the championship. A rebirth that passes through Ducati, which at all costs wanted the French rider under its roof, just when the career of the former Moto2 two-champion had become complicated following the premature farewell to KTM. But do not speak to him in any way about ‘redemption’ or ransom.
Another fact is having finished twice in front of the factory team riders. In Qatar-1 Zarco mocked Bagnaia at the end, while in Qatar-2 both he and Martín beat their official colleagues. “We at Pramac are lucky to have their own bikes,” he stressed. “Maybe we have less pressure than them. Sometimes he can help us more, as we saw for Jorge’s pole or in the great race we both did.” But he is also keen to point out that “It certainly cannot be said that [Bagnaia and Miller] had a bad race, as the first 15 were within 8 seconds! None of them hurt, they were all very close.”
NO REGRETS FOR ZARCO
As mentioned, it’s a good start to the season, a leap forward in the high areas after a few complex years. But there are no big regrets looking back on what it was. “I’ve made some decisions in the past. Now I’m happy to be back fighting with the top riders. I don’t think it’s time to think about some sort of ‘redemption or anything like that. I don’t know if two years ago I made the right decision or not, but I made it, I followed my path and thanks to Ducati now I am here.” The Borgo Panigale manufacturer has always spoken of great trust placed in the French driver, more than determined to reciprocate. Double Qatar was the first small step.