Malaysian GP – Zarco (3rd): "I chose to insure and take advantage of it!"

Johann Zarco, best MotoGP rookie 2017, signs a new podium at the Malaysian GP after his second place at Le Mans and again saves Yamaha’s honor by finishing first rider of the brand on his M1 Tech3 at Sepang, far ahead of the Rossi officials (7th) and Viñales (9th)… MNC Statements and Analysis.

Johann Zarco, Yamaha Tech3 (2nd in qualifying and 3rd in race) : "It was a great race and I’m happy to be on the podium again. I was a little worried about going in the wet because when it rained on Friday, I was not fast and overall Marquez and Dovizioso were pretty quick. Today I used the soft tire to be safe, but also to have a little bit of feeling and the lap times weren’t amazing, yet they were fast enough for lead and I widened a gap. It was good to start the GP this way, and although I felt I couldn’t attack anymore, I did enough to stay in the lead ".

– J3 (17/18)

– Johann Zarco (@ JohannZarco1)

"When the two Ducati riders passed me, I thought about fighting with them. Finally, I lost too much acceleration and I had to brake a lot. Besides, it was too risky and I lost the rear twice. I didn’t know what to do, I expected the track to dry out a bit and wanted to try to catch them, but I was limited. On the last three laps I had ran alone in third position, so I decided to stay focused and the result was already pretty good, so I chose to belay and enjoy it! "

• Malaysian GP :
• Malaysian GP :
• Malaysian GP :

Site analysis : For the, this first season in MotoGP has everything a resounding success, like his first laps in the lead during his! Admittedly, he is still missing a victory to complete the table, but the French debutant in the premier class has already signed two podiums by regularly finishing in the top 5 on his M1 2016, often ahead of the two official Yamaha riders on the 2017 models. ! 

What to feed concerns for 2018, insofar as Tech3 traditionally recovers the Yamaha from the previous season? "The best for Johann would be if he keeps the same bike! I say that for him!", Exclaimed with a smile – yellow? – Valentino Rossi, lagging behind in the wet at Sepang … For the Doctor, as for many observers, the cause is understood: the 2017 bike is less efficient than that of last year when the grip conditions are precarious.

Johann Zarco doesn’t think he’ll inherit a bad bike next year: "Yamaha‘s goal is to have four competitive bikes on the grid, I’m sure they’re working hard in Japan for that." , assures the French rookie, who reminds that the M1 2017 is not so bad, since it allowed Viñales to clinch three victories at the start of the season and Rossi to win the .

How to explain then that he finished on the podium after leading the race, while the Yamaha officials are 7th and 9th in Malaysia? No doubt by his choice of the soft rear tire (just like Alvaro Bautista, Dani Pedrosa, Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro, Scott Redding, Michael van der Mark and Loris Baz) while his rivals started in medium. As usual, Zarco made a risky bet but it paid off, even if following the two official Ducatis under these conditions then turned out to be too risky. The French pilot then wisely chose safety and offered himself a well-deserved second podium. !

"We can see that Johann is growing and that he is much more of a MotoGP rider than when we started the year," said Herve Poncharal, delighted. "I was really sad and bitter to have missed the third place in Australia and I thought it was perhaps the last opportunity of the season for Johann to climb again", continues the team manager of Tech3 admitting that "however, he proved me wrong today".

Will Johann take his first MotoGP victory in Valencia on November 12, for the last race of one, which will see the title of world champion either stay on the chimney of Marc Marquez or pass over that of? To be continued of course on MNC: stay connected !

Related articles

• Analysis – Malaysian GP – Zarco (3rd): “Third is a good result” –

  Malaysian GP – Zarco (3rd): Third is a good result Good weekend for Johann Zarco who returns to the podium by finishing third in the 2018 MotoGP Malaise…

• Analysis – MotoGP French GP – Zarco: “I knew something could happen” –

  MotoGP French GP – Zarco: I knew something could happen He did it ! Johann Zarco took his first MotoGP podium in front of his home crowd at Le Mans,…

• Analysis – Qatar GP – Zarco (8th): “I wanted to lead the race” –

  Qatar GP – Zarco (8th): I wanted to lead the race Star of last year’s Qatar Grand Prix over six laps, Johann Zarco shone again this year by dominating…

• Analysis – GP of the Netherlands MotoGP – Zarco (14th): “It’s part of the game” … – Used YAMAHA

  GP of the Netherlands MotoGP – Zarco (14th): It’s part of the game … Johann Zarco did not manage to keep the advantage of his pole position until the…

• Analysis – San Marino MotoGP GP – Zarco (15th): “The engine cut and I had to push” … –

  San Marino MotoGP GP – Zarco (15th): The engine cut and I had to push … The image will remain in the annals of motorcycle sport: Johann Zarco who draws…

• Analysis – Qatar MotoGP GP – Zarco: “I took my chance …” – Used YAMAHA

  Qatar MotoGP GP – Zarco: I took my chance … For six laps, the star of the 2017 Qatar Grand Prix was Johann Zarco! Marquez, Dovizioso, Iannone, Viñales…

• Analysis – Malaysian GP – Pedrosa (5th): “The three overseas races were difficult” –

  Malaysian GP – Pedrosa (5th): The three overseas races were difficult Dani Pedrosa expected better from this 2017 Malaysian GP, ​​on the strength of his…

• Analysis – GP of the Americas – Zarco: “I was able to fight with Rossi, it was fantastic!” –

  GP of the Americas – Zarco: I was able to fight with Rossi, it was fantastic! Johann Zarco continues his superb MotoGP start to the MotoGP season in…

• Analysis – MotoGP French GP – Zarco (retirement): “I should have waited a little longer” … –

  MotoGP French GP – Zarco (retirement): I should have waited a little longer … Highly anticipated for his national Grand Prix where he hoped to win his…

• Analysis – 7th at the Malaysian GP, ​​Quartararo had “the pace to do much better” … –

  7th in the Malaysian GP, ​​Quartararo had the pace to do much better … Fabio Quartararo was finally unable to take advantage of the Malaysian GP, ​​on…