Buoyant Zarco seeking Aragon-style bounce back in Valencia MotoGP

Johann Zarco presented a confident air following Friday free practice for the 2020 MotoGP World Championship’s penultimate Valencia MotoGP round after ending the day fifth overall.

The Frenchman was primed for a strong result on the Spanish Ricardo Tormo circuit a week ago when he qualified in fourth position, only to crash out of contention aboard the Avintia Ducati.

However, Zarco has high hopes of making amends this weekend, suggesting he has hit the ground running successfully as he did in Aragon when he followed up a ninth place finish the opening weekend with a fifth place in the following encounter.

Having now become a regular figure among the top Ducati representatives at the end of sessions, Zarco thinks he is in good shape for Saturday’s qualifying sessions.

“Great day, full dry conditions and to have a feeling and immediately start on a good lap time really helps to do a good job and to perform well. So I am pretty happy I got this from the morning, then we could try some setting and modification on the bike, a little bit Aragon style, to see if we can have the same improvement as in Aragon. 

“All this information is very clear because we can be fast and do something a little bit better or a little bit worse, but you quickly understand what you need and if you are going in the wrong direction for this. At the end of the afternoon when I tried

With Zarco set to leap two generations in machinery when he swaps his 2019-spec Avintia Ducati for a 2021-spec Pramac Ducati next season, he says the manufacturer is already setting his machine up with an eye on development for the next year.

“We are trying things, there is nothing to lose just to prepare the best strategy for next year. I would say Jack [Miller] is in the same situation, I don’t know his position in the championship but that is the best place to test when you are competing with the others. I left Ducati to manage the situation but it seems they can also get information.”