IN
THE
WIND
P28
Zarco Unleashes
B
attered by two Friday
crashes at a track where
last year he scored a podium on
a Yamaha, new KTM rider Jo-
hann Zarco ripped into his team
at the MotoGP round in Jerez
Spain, May 3-5, before quali-
fying 18th, one place behind
teammate Pol Espargaro.
This was a further indignity
after Espargaro had finished a
best-yet eighth after qualifying
fifth, and the highly regarded
Frenchman was a distant 13th.
After his first crash on Friday
morning, Dorna's cameras
caught an expletive-rich mo-
ment in the KTM pit, where he
described both chassis and
electronic power control as "eff-
ing shit."
The team had tested a new
chassis at Le Mans during the
break but with little improve-
ment, according to the former
double Moto2 Champion who
had frequently given the factory
Yamaha riders a headache dur-
ing his two years on a satellite
Yamaha.
"Staying calm in this difficult
time is a challenge," he said
later in his press debrief.
His problems stem from a
severe mismatch between his
silky riding style and a bike that
responds better to a much more
aggressive approach. Team-
mate Espargaro conforms to
the latter.
So far, Zarco's attempts to
change his style have been
fruitless. "I try to push into the
corner like never before, with
my body out as though I am a
passenger on the bike."
Michael Scott
Johann Zarco lost
his cool with his
KTM at the Jerez
round of MotoGP.
PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE
