MotoGP, Zarco: "Marquez has the determination to try to surpass Rossi's titles"

Johann Zarco regained some breathing room with a ninth-place finish at the Japanese GP in Motegi. Despite not being able to match Joan Mir's performance - when he was able to bring the HRC team back on the podium after an absence that lasted since 2023 - the LCR team's rider was able to break a streak of three Sundays without points, putting the wheels of his RC213V back in the Top 10 of a Grand Prix, for the first time since the second place he took in May on the Silverstone track. It was a good starting point for the transalpine rider who, in the post-race, wanted to both reflect on his performance and also say a few words about Marc Marquez's extraordinary season, which culminated with the Spanish rider winning his 9th World Championship title.

"Marquez recuperated his position. When he was with Honda and fell a lot, we thought he was going crazy, he was overdoing it, but he just wanted to go fast. He couldn't hold back. With a better bike, he was able to regain his confidence and win another title. I'm happy for him. He's been super dominant this year. It's motivating to see him so calm and strong. It's great," Johann said, as reported by our colleagues at Motosan.

Speaking about the Catalan's chances of surpassing the number of titles won by Valentino Rossi, the Honda rider added, "I think he has the determination to surpass Valentino Rossi.And, as for titles, yes, he can aim to win them. Next year, maybe he won't win the championship with ten races to spare, but I think he'll make it. He'll try again, that's for sure. I don't know how the cards will be shuffled in 2027. There are going to be opportunities, so why not take advantage of them? It's my turn to dream!"

Along with the eldest of the Marquez brothers, Zarco also wanted to honor Mir. "He had a fantastic race. I'm very happy for him that he got on the podium, and it's good motivation for us to find a good set-up."

Another happy note for the French rider is undoubtedly the fact that he's finally back in the points zone.

"I'm very satisfied with this ninth place. It's a great relief to gain points, because I haven't been able to finish the races since Austria, and it was very difficult to manage," Johann commented, admitting to Canal+ that he blamed the negative results of the last few races. "I think the stress and tension increased as the races went on, due to not finishing them. There was almost only one goal... to finish a race, which seems so simple. But, when you don't cross the finish line anymore, it becomes an almost difficult goal to achieve."

This is exactly what Zarco can say about being particularly pleased with his performance.

"I got a good start and had the right pace to fight for the top ten. I just lacked a little speed to get close to the top eight but, overall, it was a solid race, and that's what counts. I was able to defend my position, do some good overtakes and have fun riding," the Honda rider continued, convinced that being behind Fabio Quartararo's Yamaha for a long time helped him see the checkered flag again. "Right from the first laps, I was able to make some space and then get back on Fabio, but I didn't have the margin to overtake him and try to catch up with Raul Fernandez. I think that, if I had tried, I would've made a mistake. Then I told myself that I had to check Fabio, that maybe he would have difficulties at the end of the race, and I could overtake him. I think he handled the race well, though, because I did my best to stay close to him and attack him. But, in the last two laps, he pulled away a bit. I think he was holding onto something as wel,l to make an extra effort on the last pass."