Johann Zarco concluded the official MotoGP preseason tests with the 17th fastest time in Losail. The LCR Honda rider was the top performer among the Japanese manufacturer’s bikes, even ahead of the two factory team riders, and he is enjoying riding the bike while still getting acquainted with it.
The Frenchman emphasized that lap times were not his main focus at this stage and he is having good sensations on the bike: ‘During the Grand Prix we’ll really push, be more focused to do a better lap time and be more competitive and work then maybe on some setup to give me even more possibilities on the bike. But all what Honda needed to test, we could do this, and from this I think they have good information and I’m really confident with them to improve – because the feeling on the bike is quite good. I can enjoy, I repeat that I can enjoy on the bike. Just sometimes the lap time is not coming. At least this helps to keep working well and give the best feedback as possible’.
Regarding the fall he experienced in the final minutes of the test, Zarco explained that he believes he could have achieved a better time at that point: ‘I had a crash on my last tyre, really on my last lap trying to get something better. It was possible to improve and to go under 1m52s, but I did a mistake going a bit wide. It happens and at least the good thing is to try and see what happens. It was almost the right moment to do it’.