Johann Zarco is unlikely to endear himself to new employer Avintia Racing by declaring – before his deal for the 2020 MotoGP World Championship was officially confirmed – that he sees himself as a Ducati rider rather than an Avintia rider.
The ‘Johann Zarco’ saga was a long and winding affair in 2019 that began with his entry into the KTM factory before lamenting difficulties adapting to the bike and announcing that he would join the team early at the end of the season would leave. This was brought forward to September when KTM turned attention to the development of its 2020 machine.
After a respectable three-race foray at LCR Honda, expectations of a move to Repsol Honda in place of the retired Jorge Lorenzo arose, and Zarco was ultimately frozen by the title-winning team’s decision to sign Alex Marquez.
However, just as a move back to Moto2 was being discussed, Zarco was instead associated with a move to Avintia Ducati instead of Karel Abraham. This was not a smooth transition either. Zarco declared Avintia not “top team” enough for him before seemingly won over by the promise of Ducati support.
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Although the deal itself has not been officially confirmed, Zarco has told French publication Moto Journal that it is taking place. However, he says it was only the assurances of Ducati Corse manager Gigi Dall’Igna that convinced him to sign before suggesting that he is not an Avintia rider.
“It is the fact that Gigi Dall’Igna tells me that I can trust him when he joins Avintia next year,” he said. “Still doubting the Avintia team’s abilities, I visited my former chief mechanic, Massimo Branchini. Massimo told me to trust Gigi. Gig Dall’Igna will take care of finding a good chief mechanic for me.
“Besides, I don’t think I signed with Avintia, but with Ducati. My goal for 2020 is to be no less than tenth and join the official Ducati team in 2021. “
Isn’t Johann Zarco keeping his face by choosing Avintia?
While the words may have been twisted in the mouth-to-paper translation, Zarco’s rather blunt dismissal of the team he just signed for is unlikely to raise morale in the brave Spanish troop … nor impress the man who unexpectedly was removed to make way for him, Karel Abraham.
It also sets a somewhat unfavorable precedent for Zarco as he may find himself compelled to talk about his 2020 MotoGP machines if things don’t go according to him – much like KTM.
This attitude has already earned him some friends in MotoGP – Aleix Espargaro recently said he was undeserved on the Repsol Honda ride for being “unprofessional” – and these recent comments, seemingly unsolicited, certainly don’t make him popular.
To his credit, its presence appears to have prompted Ducati to become more committed to the Avintia effort as it has been upgraded to an official satellite team for 2020.
While it is unclear how much the Borgo Panigale brand is directly involved in Zarco’s machines, it will undoubtedly be more vigilant than before.
On the other hand, if Zarco doesn’t see himself as an Avintia driver, it may have to to make him happy …
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