Johann Zarco (Ducati): “I want to stay with Ducati”

Johann Zarco (30), who fell out of favor at Red Bull KTM 2019, drove sensationally to pole position in Brno with the 2019 Ducati from the Avintia Esponsorama team and relegated the two Petronas Yamaha stars Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo to the Places.

Zarco and his team around Raúl Romero and Ruben Xaus also immediately received the congratulations from the enthusiastic Ducati sports director Paolo Ciabatti. For the French, it was the sixth MotoGP pole. In the conversations on Saturday evening, Zarco also commented on his future, praising the Italians: “What the Ducati people have been doing since November is great. So I want to stay with Ducati. We’ll see what happens.”

In the Ducati factory team, Miller and Dovizioso should drive in 2021, or Miller and Bagnaia, if there is no agreement with the vice world champion. When Bagnaia joins the Ducati Corse team, there will be a free place next to Jorge Martin – possibly for Zarco. Otherwise he would have to stay with Avintia.

The Frenchman admits: “I’ve almost forgotten how to drive at a very high level. But Ducati gave me the chance again. I am very grateful for that. Of course, I want the best possible place at Ducati in 2021. But for now I want to keep showing good performances. ” The man from Cannes then said: “My driving level from 2018 would probably not be enough at the moment, not even on the Yamaha. I would be too far back. ”

Regarding the new rear tire from MotoGP supplier Michelin in conjunction with the Ducati Desmosedici, Zarco says: “In autumn I was not able to drive the old Ducati with it and first drove the Ducati GP19 with the new tire. We may be missing something with the new tire. On one lap we went very well on Saturday. I don’t know why ‘Dovi’ is having problems. He is the normal reference for the Ducati. But it’s not my driving style that helps here. “

Zarco already impressed in Brno in 2019, when the factory KTM circled unexpectedly on the wet track at P3. «I cannot say why this is so. It’s not far to my girlfriend’s home. Maybe that gave me extra motivation, otherwise I don’t really have an explanation. “

Brno GP, MotoGP, Q2:

1. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 55.687 min
2. Quartararo, Yamaha, 1: 55,990
3. Morbidelli, Yamaha, 1: 55.998
4. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1: 56,074
5. Viñales, Yamaha, 1:56,131
6. Pol Espargaró, KTM, 1: 56,142
7. Binder, KTM, 1: 56,299
8. Petrucci, Ducati, 1: 56.454
9. Mir, Suzuki, 1: 56,512
10.Rossi, Yamaha, 1: 56,515
11. Rins, Suzuki, 1:56,571
12. Crutchlow, Honda, 1: 56,797

The rest of the starting grid:
13. Oliveira, KTM, 1: 56,328
14. Miller, Ducati, 1:56,352
15. Rabat, Ducati, 1: 56,695
16. Lecuona, KTM, 1: 56,764
17. Nakagami, Honda, 1:56,822
18. Dovizioso, Ducati, 1: 57.034
19. Smith, Aprilia, 1:57,438
20. Bradl, Honda, 1: 57,573
21. Alex Marquez, Honda

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