MotoGP Austria: Zarco uses Martin’s victory as motivation

08/12/2021 |
Christina Bulpett |
MotoGP

Image: GeeBee Pictures

Johann Zarco von Pramac says that Jorge Martin’s MotoGP win confirms his own feeling on the Ducati ahead of the AustrianGP’s return to the Red Bull Ring this weekend.

The Frenchman was frustrated when he finished sixth in the red flag race on Sunday after being overtaken by both Brad Binder and Takaaki Nakagami on the last of 27 laps after finishing the entire race in the top five .

“Fourth place was better than sixth for that [season] because it’s true that I couldn’t be very quick last weekend, ”said Zarco from the press conference before the event.

“The race was okay, I only had problems on the last lap – I think with the rear tire – and Nakagami and Brad caught me too quickly. I couldn’t hold the gap. I was disappointed right after the race – because if the race seems okay, but then you lose two positions in one lap, you get frustrated with the last – but then it wasn’t a bad race and I could see good things.

“I was happy for my team-mate to win the race and it was even more interesting to confirm my feeling on the bike that it is possible to win. I just need a little more confidence in a few areas to make it onto the podium and why not a win, ”he confirmed.

“When I was able to analyze my performance, I and the team enjoyed Jorge’s good result more, and that made Sunday evening quite okay.

“There is the right motivation for motivation because it really confirms the potential of the motorcycle. I think it’s one of the best bikes that can be on the podium all the time or fight for it and even for victory. So this confirmation helps Ducati riders to get the extra boost.

“Jorge’s potential has been there since Qatar 2, with pole position he led almost the entire race and I followed him. The worst thing was the fall at Portimao and after that he had difficult races but he showed that the summer break helped him a lot to recover really well and then he drove like the ‘Martinator’ again. That’s the good sign. We have less experience. Having the right performance really means that we, I say, we as Ducati riders just have to take this step – easier said than done, but it’s the right motivation, ”he concluded.