In Austin, Johann Zarco experienced both a challenging race and a breakthrough in his MotoGP season. Although finishing 17th marked his worst result so far, the weekend held significant promise for the Castrol Honda LCR rider, thanks to key advancements in bike control and setup.
Zarco expressed satisfaction with the progress made, particularly with the setup adjustments that offered him better command over the bike. “Starting with the slick tyres, I’m so happy that we took a huge step forward from Saturday to Sunday. I could show it in the warm-up, but then it was a good confirmation in the race. I had better control of the bike, we had a clearly different setup,” he affirmed, indicating the value of these changes in future races.
Highlighting the importance of adaptability, Zarco remarked, “Getting this possibility now of switching from one setup to another and get the performance will be very important for us for the rest of the season to adapt always better and give me the best possibilities for the races.”
During the main race, Zarco showed promising moments, overtaking and challenging riders like Jack Miller. However, an unfortunate incident involving Fermín Aldeguer led to a momentum loss, resulting in his retirement from the race. Yet, the changes made to his setup were notable, as Zarco observed, “We made a huge change on the setup. I cannot say if we went in Joan’s [Mir] or [Luca] Marini’s direction, but we did something that works for me. I’m so happy about that. We tested it in the warm-up, and I straightaway got a better lap time than in qualifying.”
The events in Austin underline a pivotal point in Zarco’s season, showcasing the effective setup adjustments that could drive future success. This adaptability could influence Zarco’s performance, paving the way for more competitive outcomes in upcoming races.
