Zarco: You didn’t know when wind would come

Johann Zarco has described the conditions that led to Miguel Oliveira’s horror crash at Phillip Island on Saturday, saying the wind was totally unpredictable. “You cannot really know why it will come and when,” he said.

It is believed the Frenchman was one of the riders who wanted to continue with qualifying, but even he admitted it was wise to abandon the day’s action when a heavy rain storm arrived just after the Rider’s Safety Commission meeting.

“The track conditions, the asphalt we agreed was in a better condition than if you ride in the wet, but the problem was this strong, strong wind. Maybe if Miguel didn't crash, we would not have to decide to cancel the afternoon.

“When we decided, we came back to the box and then a huge rain came just for a few minutes, then stopped. So when you see the rain with this wind, you understand that it was better to stop. A few guys wanted to go on track, others not.

“It was surprising at turn one. You are coming, a little bit hidden from the wind, and at the moment you brake, you are not hidden any more by the little hill and the grandstands and these things, so then when the wind comes, it is pushing a lot. It pushed one guy in Moto2 and Miguel.

“So yes, you need to manage it. Track conditions were not bad. The asphalt, the tarmac was hot – hot, good enough for the tyres – it was just this wind that you cannot really know why it will come and when.

“And we will see tomorrow. Tomorrow if the wind is less, we can go on the track and we will do the qualifying in the morning, then the race in the afternoon. For myself, I have to learn the bike.

“These tricky conditions today didn't give me the possibility to really push the bike and continue to learn the confidence on it. But at least I did laps in the morning, I did laps in the afternoon, and I feel more comfortable on it, it's become more natural to ride it. So I believe that tomorrow I can have a good result.”

On his further adaption to the LCR Honda, he added, “Tricky conditions because of the wind today. For sure I could not find the limit and the confidence as I wanted to work from the Friday afternoon.

“But I could feel and begin to go fast. But a few things, I could use the Honda better and understand the bike better. Also just as a race bike, find the normal feeling as a good rider.

“So a good day for me. We canceled the qualifying, but not a big drama for me. I did laps in the morning, I did laps in the afternoon. For sure I could not be fast, but I did laps, so that's the main thing.”