Every cloud has a silver lining, and according to Johann Zarco, even the difficulties encountered by the LCR Honda team at Mugello are no exception. In fact, on the eve of the weekend in Assen, the French rider told how the Japanese team managed to draw some useful information from the problems that emerged on the Tuscan track, arriving in the Netherlands even more prepared.
"Today I had a good conversation with the team, because the analysis of Mugello was quite positive. Although it was the track on which we struggled the most, we had a good evolution over the course of the weekend and the control of the bike improved," he explained , "It's unfortunate that I crashed, but it's part of our work. Here we will push to continue to evolve with the set-up and my riding, hoping they can combine quite well. We are also understanding some things better in terms of electronics, engine braking and traction control, playing with some very technical aspects, and I think we arrived here much more ready than on other tracks. The analysis and conversation with the team were positive, and now we just have to hope that this will pay off on the track."
The French rider is looking forward to this appointment with the Cathedral of Speed.
"I hope we will have a good weekend. From a technical point of view, it seems like it could be good for us that it is less hot, and it could also be good that we are on a track with no height variation, because we realized that in Assen and Mugello we had more problems than others on the ups and downs. This can also help us understand where the balance of the bike is good and where it is not," Johann commented.
Speaking about the difficulties encountered on the ups and downs, he added, "Sometimes you feel you have more problems uphill or downhill, but I don't want to go into too much detail with the explanation. It might help to understand the balance of the bike, but also be related to the electronics. We are starting to get a clearer picture and that is good for us because we are still working on development. I reiterate that Mugello was tough, but in comparison with last year we almost halved the gap so we can't see it negatively."
Expectations for this weekend are quite high, although the grip might give the RC213V some trouble.
"I love the front end of my bike and that's why I use it a lot more and better than I did last year. That's the reason why I think I can raise my level here in Assen and have fun on this track with the special layout, which I didn't enjoy enough in the past," Zarco said. "Now I want to enjoy every circuit and perform on this historic track, to be part of the big names here in Assen as well. I think it would be nice to finish close to the top five. I think it's possible, so why not!"
Does the track's history make it even more special? "Maybe so, also because we come here every year and I think it's kind of like Le Mans as history. Even though Le Mans is famous for motor racing and the 24 Hours, you feel you are in an ancient place. It's the same at Assen, but here the track configuration is more special and if you go fast you can have even more fun than you do at Le Mans," replied the LCR rider, who went on to explain how he might be able to appreciate more those Assen-type tracks where he had struggled in the past, "With the evolution of the riding style and the set-up I use. Two years ago, or even last year, I couldn't ride like I'm doing now and that means I'm changing something in my riding that is raising my level. I think this can combine better with those tracks where I was struggling."