VOL. 53 ISSUE 28 JULY 19, 2016 P29
ZARCO SIGNS FOR TECH3 YAMAHA
C
urrent Moto2 World Cham-
pion Johann Zarco has
signed on the dotted line to join
Tech3 Yamaha, partnering fellow
Moto2 graduate Jonas Folger
for 2017.
The Cannes-born rider began
his Grand Prix career in 2009
where he competed in the
125cc class, with his highlight in
the lightweight series being the
runner-up in the championship
standings in 2011. In 2012 Zarco
stepped up to the intermedi-
ate class and since then has
amassed 11 victories, nine pole
positions, 14 podium finishes,
and one world championship
victory. Should Zarco go on to
win the Moto2 title this year,
he will be the first rider to seal
back-to-back championships in
the intermediate class.
"It goes without say-
ing that I am very happy
to join the MotoGP class
with Tech3 and I am
confident that we can
form a solid partnership,"
Zarco said. "The team
has a deep relationship
and long history with
Yamaha and they have
proved that they can man-
age well in every situation and
have had a good package year
after year. This pleases me and
it gives me extra motivation for
reaching my targets in the 2017
season. Of course, it seems like
a logical step for a French team
and a French champion to work
together, and now finally the
deal is done which is certainly
positive news. I really will do my
best and prepare myself for the
maximum because I think it's
more than possible to get some
top results in MotoGP after my
long experience in the interme-
diate class." CN
Johann Zarco's graduation to the
intermediate class has been long ex-
pected and guarantees a Frenchman
will be on the 2017 MotoGP grid.
DUNGEY NABS
SECOND ESPY
F
or the second year in a row Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey was
the recipient of the Best Action Sports Male Athlete at the ESPY
Awards, which were announced Wednesday, July 13.
Dungey's back-to-back accolade comes only one week after the
announcement of his participation in ESPN The Magazine's "Body
Issue," which earned the back-to-back AMA Supercross Champion
additional world-wide media attention.
In 2015, Dungey became the first motocross/supercross racer
to win an ESPY Award and the Minnesota native was humbled to
once again be nominated in 2016. Dungey won the 2016 Best Action
Sports Male Athlete award, which is based on fan voting, over free-
style skier Gus Kenworthy, skateboarders Nyjah Huston and Pedro
Barros and snowboarder Mark McMorris. CN
Ryan Dungey picked up his
second ESPY Award in a row.
