INTERVIEW: 15 Minutes with Johann Zarco

Denzil Pinto 09:01 31/03/2017
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  • Fans who were watching the MotoGP season-opener in Qatar on Sunday will have noticed an unfamiliar name at the top of the leaderboard during the early stages of the race.

    Although it was temporary, just six laps at the front of the pack before crashing out, Johann Zarco showed he has what it takes to challenge in the top class and not just make up the numbers since stepping up from Moto2 in the summer where he won the last two titles.

    His debut certainly caught the attention of his rivals, including seven-time champion Valentino Rossi, who led the praise for the 26-year-old Frenchman.

    Zarco, of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3, spoke to Sport360 in the Qatari capital on his first MotoGP race, targets for the season and life as a professional motorcyclist.

    Although you crashed out early on, how do you judge your first MotoGP race?

    There was a bit of bad luck (in crashing out early). Starting from the second row, I wanted to use this opportunity to set the pace and I had a good first corner. I was feeling good and was happy that I could overtake the riders and then take the lead. I didn’t want to push more, but I went wide on one of the corners where I crashed.

    It was a shame and it was possible to take a podium. But to start the race like this is good for me mind and will give me confidence for the rest of the season.

    It was a good lesson for me and I still need to learn in this category.

    There are some new things that you need to control. As I say, I didn’t finish well here but I need to work hard to make it happen in the remaining races.

    There were a lot of French flags in the stands. What did it mean to have that support?

    With it being a long flight from France, it was nice to have people from back home. I could hear people scream my name. It does give you pleasure, but you are concentrated on the race.

    You came into this season having won the last two Moto2 titles. How do you think you can improve from those two campaigns for this season’s competition?

    The last two seasons were very good because I won the titles and won many races.

    That’s now in the past. I feel I have to learn again and learn even more as quickly as possible to become one of the best riders in MotoGP. There’s still a lot to do to in learning the new bike and for the rest of the season.

    Given your success in motorcycling, where you are France’s most successful rider in Grand Prix racing with 16 victories in all classes, do you feel you need to prove yourself that you’re capable of competing in MotoGP?

    Of course it’s going to be hard.

    When you start Moto3 or 125cc, then over time you gradually want to be one of the best in that class and it’s the same in Moto2.

    In MotoGP, there are strong riders but I’ll just have to push myself more and improve in every race, which is key for me.

    What are your targets for the rest of the season?

    I want to be in the top 10. I think this is possible after the testing that we did and I feel that I’m not far from this target. It’s important that I’m constantly improving in each race. I want to be close to the top guys. Of course it will be hard to bridge the gap to those guys. But I feel if I can do this job to the best of my ability, then I feel it’s possible and even become the best rookie of the year.

    Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo are two of the riders who have won the Moto2 and MotoGP titles. Does that give you the belief that becoming a future MotoGP champion is possible?

    I don’t know if it can give me confidence, it’s going to be hard to win the championship in the first year. But it certainly encourages me that it is possible.

    It’s all about not giving up and always thinking that anything is possible.

    What’s your favourite track to compete on?

    I don’t have a specific one, but I enjoy competing in all the tracks. I enjoy travelling around the world and riding around different circuits, which are all good.

    How much has your life changed since you won the Moto2 crowns?

    Not so much. My life is quite simple and hasn’t changed much and just living for my passion, which is racing motorbikes.

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