VOL. 55 ISSUE 18 MAY 8, 2018 P45
ZARCO TO KTM CONFIRMED
T
he rumor was true. The hottest
unsigned rider in MotoGP has
made up his mind. Johann Zarco
has signed a two-year contract
with the Red Bull KTM team.
The French double Moto2 Cham-
pion will join current incumbent Pol
Espargaro, also on for another two
years, leaving an intriguing vacancy
in the French Tech3 team, which
has also signed up with the Austrian
manufacturer, promised full factory
machines for Miguel Oliveira and
one unknown rider.
"It's a great challenge for the
future—a European bike with
a European rider," said Zarco.
"The way KTM improved last year
makes me think something is pos-
sible."
He confirmed that HRC had ap-
proached him, and thought about
the implications of being teammate
to Marquez.
"I was talking with my coach,
that if you are with Marquez and if
you want to win races you would
have to improve your riding level
a lot; so, I thought with that level I
could be fast also with KTM. We
were thinking: if you put Marc on
the KTM, where would it be?"
KTM Motorsports Director Pit
Beirer saw it as a forward step.
"It is clear we want to take
another step in MotoGP," he said,
in an official statement. "The first
two years were about building the
project. We had to trust in our ca-
pability to build a winning bike and
Johann would not come over if he
did not see and feel that trust. We
feel very responsible now to get
that package strong enough so
that he can continue on the level
where he is.
"You always want to get the best
possible riders on board and it's
obvious with Johann beating the
factory guys on satellite machinery
and consistently qualifying on the
front row means he is a strong
fighter with a strong spirit. I'm con-
vinced we can reach the next level
with a rider like Johann with us,"
Beirer concluded.
Michael Scott
MOTOGP JIGSAW FALLING INTO PLACE
W
ith another piece of the
jigsaw in place, the focus
switched to the remaining unsold
seats at Repsol Honda, Suzuki
and Ducati, in particular.
Asked about his potential
teammate, Marquez was loyal,
saying, "I always said I would like
a strong teammate, and I think
there are only two riders who are
there: Dani [Pedrosa] and
Andrea [Dovizioso]."
Dovi has yet to sign
to stay with Ducati, with
his name rather vaguely
linked to Suzuki. "We are
working on the future, and
speaking about that, but there is
no need to decide now," he said.
Currently under-performing
teammate Jorge Lorenzo is aware
that his position at Ducati might
be tenuous, while he is also a
possible Suzuki prospect.
Andrea Iannone, whose Suzuki
seat is in doubt but getting more
positive following his second
consecutive podium in Spain,
acknowledged, "This is a very
important moment for me."
Michael Scott
Zarco's deal will see him as the
clear number one at KTM.
Andrea Iannone is riding for
his future, but has been doing
a good job of late.
