It has been rare this MotoGP season to see a Honda rider as encouraged as Johann Zarco after Friday’s Practice at the Thai GP. The LCR Honda rider brought a RC213V directly into the second qualifying session in Buriram, finishing in tenth place in practice.
The Frenchman did not hide his satisfaction, stating: ‘It’s a confirmation of the step we are taking in the overseas races, and also since Mandalika we have had this opportunity to go to the Q2 from Friday – I missed this opportunity in Japan and Australia. But here I’ve been focused on it, and I’m so happy that I managed to do it, so that’s very positive’.
Zarco is particularly confident in his chances of getting a good result in Buriram if he can continue to improve and qualify well:
– It’s another track where the lap times are so close, so if I have the opportunity to do a good qualifying tomorrow, to keep improving my feeling and my control on the bike, then I can really have a good fight with the others in the races. So, that’s my wish. If we can take a good step tomorrow, then we’ll have a lot of pleasure in the afternoon. I cross my fingers to find a better control of the bike everywhere – in braking, in gas… this will make us a few tenths faster, and we’ll be immediately in the right group, so, let’s try.