Johann Zarco and Álex Márquez secured the last two spots in the second qualifying of the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix. The riders were the fastest in Q1 on Saturday in Losail, with the top four separated by just over a tenth of a second.

After the initial flying laps, Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac/Ducati) led, with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha) in second. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM) was third and, at that point, narrowly missed out on making it to Q2.

A crash by Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) led to yellow flags, preventing the riders from improving their times on their second flying laps before returning to the pits.

In the last five minutes, there was a turnaround in the timesheet, with Álex Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) moving into the qualifying positions… before Zarco returned to the top with a new record lap (1m52.382s). The Frenchman was 55 thousandths of a second faster than Márquez.

Until the end, the top two positions remained unchanged. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team/Ducati) was just 67 thousandths away from making it to Q2 but ended up in third place.

Results:

O conteúdo Johann Zarco (with a record lap) and Álex Márquez advance to Q2 in Losail aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

A lot has been said towards the future of Marc Marquez as the contract he has with Gresini Racing to be of just one year, and some even comes to suspect the former world champion can return to Honda right in 2025 with a lot of information from Ducati, the most competitive bike currently on the grid. However, Gigi Dall’Igna sees this not as a «risks» but something that is just… ‘part of the game’, and recalled Johann Zarco is also going, in 2024, towards Honda’s sphere, with LCR.

The italian was recently in a interview with motorcyclenews.com and spoke about the subject with the french on the tip of his tongue right away: ‘Zarco is going to Honda next year. It’s the same thing, isn’t it? The information, the knowledge, the things he knows, I’m sure he’ll take all that with him’.

Dall’Igna, General Manager Ducati Corse at Ducati Motor Holding, said then this is something that happens all the time, giving the same example on Zarco who, despite being little time at KTM, brought also something with him… and revelead what he considers to be worst: ‘A transfer of knowledge is always present when a rider changes teams. When Zarco came to us, he brought the KTM experience with him. But that’s part of the game. It’s much worse in the case of the Ducati engineers who have gone to KTM’.

O conteúdo Gigi Dall’Igna isn’t afraid of riders sharing information from other manufacturers: ‘It’s part of the game; Zarco is going to LCR Honda…’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Johann Zarco got to debut in the MotoGP wins last weekend at Phillip Island and admitted that he is feeling a lot lighter now, saying he has another freedom to enjoy on the bike. He recalled and made a comparison to his state of mind after securing Moto2 titles.

‘We’ll see on the track, but this victory has left me with good feelings for several days… A lot of people ask me if this will make me click to do even better, but I don’t know. I definitely have more confidence and feel less stress, like something big has happened and now I can enjoy myself and take the time to get the bike right with the team’, the french said on the preview of this Thai GP, still with such achievement super clear in mind.

And added, with his season of 2015 in mind, then at Moto2: ‘Maybe it’s similar to the first title, when I thought: it’s done, now what? Then I found a way to win again – the parallel – The sensations are similar, because I won the championship after many races, at the age of 25, having started racing as a child: I had waited a long time, like in MotoGP, 120 races had gone by before winning one’.

Zarco had also a lot of kind words from his other fellow riders: ‘I was very happy to see so many riders congratulating me, they were sincere and it was very nice. We respect each other and they knew that I could be fast, but that sometimes I lacked something. I don’t think they’ll change their opinion of me’.

O conteúdo Johann Zarco way happier after winning in MotoGP: ‘I’m more confident and feel less stress’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Alberto Puig, the team manager of Repsol Honda, has recently clarified some circulating rumors in the MotoGP paddock. Amidst the whirlwind of speculations regarding potential replacements for Marc Márquez, one name that frequently surfaced was Johann Zarco. However, Puig has firmly stated that Repsol Honda never made any contact with the French rider.

The departure of Marc Márquez from Honda has undoubtedly created a significant void in the team, leading to widespread speculation about his potential successor. Zarco, with his impressive track record and recent performances, seemed like a plausible candidate to many. Yet, Puig’s recent statements have put a halt to these rumors.

Speaking to Paddock-GP, Puig mentioned, “I don’t know where these stories come from. We have not approached Johann Zarco, nor have we had any discussions with him about a potential seat in our team.” He emphasized that while Zarco is undoubtedly a talented rider, the team has its strategies and plans for the future.

Puig also touched upon the broader topic of rider transfers and the challenges they pose. “In this sport, rumors spread quickly. It’s essential to focus on facts and not get swayed by speculations,” he added.

The Repsol Honda team is currently evaluating various options for the upcoming season. While the final decision remains under wraps, fans and experts alike are eagerly waiting to see who will take up the mantle after Márquez.

O conteúdo Alberto Puig contradicts Johann Zarco: “We never approached Johann Zarco” aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Johann Zarco was confirmed as a rider for LCR Honda in MotoGP in 2024 some time ago. With Marc Márquez’s departure from Repsol Honda, the factory team of the manufacturer, the current Prima Pramac rider was promptly speculated as an option for that position. However, he is not receptive to the idea.

Speaking to Sky Sport, the Frenchman admitted that he didn’t particularly like the proposal from Honda, preferring to play it safe and focus on LCR Honda:

– When my manager came to me and talked about two races, in Indonesia and Australia, either with Lucio [Cecchinello, LCR team director] or with Honda, we saw that Honda and also Alberto [Puig, Repsol Honda team director] offered me things I didn’t like. So, I prefer to fully commit to Lucio to change things and work in that direction. Having that factory team, but when we’re not 100 percent sure about things, the project scared me.

O conteúdo Honda’s factory team project ‘scared’ Johann Zarco aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Ducati had some reasons to smile about in this Australian GP, in a day of debuts for two riders aboard a Desmosedici: Johann Zarco won for the first time in MotoGP, and Fabio Di Giannantonio got his first podium in the class.

General Manager Ducati Corse at Ducati Motor Holding, Dall’Igna came to social media to make a few comments on the australian day, regarding the first day: ‘A strange race, concentrated as it was in the last two laps and heavily conditioned by tyre consumption. An exciting finale that ends with a thrilling all-Ducati podium order of arrival’.

He then didn’t miss the chance to praise Zarco’s first win ever in MotoGP, a win that came after the french, who has seven years in the class, got to reach the first position on the last lap of the main race: ‘We applaud Zarco’s first win in MotoGP, a well-deserved victory, the result of an exemplary conduct that showed all his talent. Congratulations to Pramac, once again proving their excellent team work and the skill of their riders’.

He extended such words towards DiGia: ‘The same applies to Team Gresini, whose Di Giannantonio managed to mount the podium for the first time in the top class, a rider that proved battle-hardened and determined as never before, protagonist among top performers in all recent races’.

O conteúdo Gigi Dall’Igna praised Zarco and Di Giannantonio’s results in Phillip Island in ‘a strange race’ where tyre consumption was crucial aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

After more than six years of trying, Johann Zarco finally secured his first MotoGP victory on Saturday by winning the main race at the Australian GP in Phillip Island. Naturally, it was a significant moment for the Prima Pramac Racing rider.

During a press conference, the French rider was asked to describe his emotions immediately after crossing the finish line. In his answer, he explained that he was calm at that moment but later became particularly emotional due to the reactions of several of his competitors:

– Some journalists asked me if it was an explosion in the helmet, if I screamed or not. No; I felt almost everything so calm on that moment. It was like: «This is it, it’s done and it’s so good». And then the emotion came up a bit. I was also very happy to get the congratulations not from all the riders, but many riders opened the helmet, I could see their eyes and there were happy for me. This brought me a very nice emotion.

O conteúdo Johann Zarco highlights the congratulations from other riders: ‘This brought me a very nice emotion’. aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

After seven years, six of them in MotoGP, Johann Zarco achieved his long-awaited first victory in the premier class. To accomplish this, he had to prevail in a battle with several riders in the final laps of the Phillip Island race.

The rider said in a press conference: ‘It’s a quite good feeling. Because you always push and try to catch it, but sometimes you say: «There are some other riders who got the pace, who got this feeling». As long as you don’t catch it, it seems you cannot win. As Pecco [Bagnaia] did now. More than three years ago he has been flying in a Ducati and is winning so many races. Now this is Jorge’s [Martín] time, also in qualifying is doing amazing things and he can control well the race’.

In Zarco’s view, the rear tyre choice was one of the keys to the outcome: ‘The choice of the medium rear tyre was important, and when I saw Jorge going away I’ve been thinking that at least to fight for the podium would be nice. Fight for the second place will not be easy, but it’s possible. And in the last five laps, when Jorge began to drop a lot, I thought something even more special is possible today. So I’m happy I could do it’.

Regarding his feelings, the Frenchman commented: ‘Specially the emotion; maybe we have to do the long race on Saturday for me, because it seems I am a bit fresher than on a Sunday. But at least this is done, let’s see for the future. I will sleep well tonight, because here in Phillip Island, on dry conditions, winning is giving a really nice feeling because everyone loves the track and you feel that you are part of the big guys who won here, and this is a very nice feeling’.

O conteúdo ‘As long as you don’t catch the victory, it seems you cannot win’ – Johann Zarco aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Seven years later, Johann Zarco returned to the victories, winning for the first time in MotoGP. At the Australian GP, the Pramac rider had to wait until the last lap to make the decisive overtake.

In the flash interview with the official broadcast, the Frenchman didn’t hide his disbelief in this result, in addition to summarizing his approach to the race:

– It’s making a good feeling. It’s hard to believe, but at least this race has been pretty good. I had a good start and I had to fight at the beginning. Then I’ve been quite fast and behind Pecco [Bagnaia] I was seeing he wouldn’t lose the gap with the guys in front. [Jorge] Martín totally went away. So I was trying to save the rear tyre as well as possible, because I know that normally in the last few laps I can do well with this rear tyre. And I was seeing the tyre was moving, but I could have something more. And then I tried to attack when we were in this group and it was almost a surprise to see Martín totally dropping down. So I said «something is possible». And I tried to overtake as well as possible and I was quite OK.

Zarco also said: ‘At the end I really tried to pick up the bike to have the best drive as possible and crossing the line in first after so many races trying to do it it’s really a high emotion. I need to swallow it, to take it well and enjoy tonight – because I don’t want to cry at the moment, but I think it will come soon!’.

O conteúdo ‘Crossing the line in first after so many races trying it’s a high emotion’ – Johann Zarco aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

What a thrill, what suspense until the last second at Phillip Island with Johann Zarco finally winning in MotoGP! Since 2017 in the category, Zarco had a race in crescendo and in the end gave no margin to anyone to get to the front of the race on the last lap where he won. Jorge Martín looked like he was in a horror film after leading until literally the last lap where he didn’t even finish on the podium!

Everything is in place for the start of MotoGP’s main race, given the changes to the calendar announced on Friday. 18ºC at Phillip Island, last-minute tyre changes, and plenty of excitement for sure in the race.

Martín had the best start and stayed in front, but the highlight was the home rider, Jack Miller, who gained four positions in no time! On the following lap, however, the Australian began to lose positions and dropped to sixth, while Fabio Di Giannantonio made his way down… climbing to fourth after beating Francesco Bagnaia.

In just three laps Martín gained more than 1s on second, Brad Binder, but the question was: how would the #89’s soft rear tyre hold up?

Marc Márquez, meanwhile, overtook Miller and climbed to sixth position, and it wasn’t long before he was in the top five, beating Johann Zarco. The Frenchman responded shortly afterwards and retook fifth place, which worked in Bagnaia’s favour.

The fight was such that Márquez overtook again, but Zarco returned the manoeuvre. 0.487s separated the #5 from the #1. Martín led by 1.668s over Binder, who was slightly faster than the Prima Pramac Racing rider for the moment.

Meanwhile, Pramac sent a message, literally, to Martín: “Breathe”, reminiscent of what happened last week when the rider crashed while 3s ahead of second. However… Martín didn’t slow down and continued to set a frantic pace and after nine laps he was already 2.391s ahead of Binder.

Joan Mir crashed at turn 4 after battling with Luca Marini on lap 10. The Spaniard nevertheless picked up his motorbike and returned to the race, but… only for a short time. The Repsol Honda rider abandoned shortly afterwards.

That was the top ten with 13 laps completed:

The next to “taste” the asphalt was Augusto Fernández who, with 12 laps to go, ended his race after crashing.

Martín was still very strong in the lead and 3.461s ahead of Binder, with Di Giannantonio 3.625s behind the #89. Bagnaia was 1.032s behind the fourth-placed rider and Zarco remained fifth.

At any moment it was expected that DiGia would overtake Binder, 0.045s away but with the gap constantly changing. Both riders had the same tyre selection. With nine laps to go, the overtake was confirmed and DiGia, still without a place on the grid for 2024, was second!

The race was entering a decisive phase and already inside the last straight and Martín was a figurehead as he led with a gap of 3.125s over DiGia. However, out of nowhere, Martín saw the #49 gain 0.4s on him and anything could still happen.

Bagnaia’s life was complicated as he was overtaken by Zarco and dropped to fifth place.

This was the top ten: Martín, DiGia, Binder, Zarco, Bagnaia, Álex Márquez, Aleix Espargaró, Jack Miller, Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Márquez.

Binder still had something up his sleeve and moved into second place. 0.8s separated fifth from second.

With three laps to go Martín was losing considerable time and “only” 1.649s separated Binder from the lead, at a time when Zarco was moving up to third!

With two laps to go, Zarco saw the light at the end of the tunnel and climbed to second place, with Martín 0.955s behind. Bagnaia, meanwhile, was also giving it his all and was third.

On the last lap Martín had… 0.4s on Zarco and the Frenchman, with his pace… moved into the lead! And not only that! Bagnaia also passed the Spaniard and was soon in third.

Martín lost positions again and in one lap he went from first to fifth, with Brad Binder also overtaking him!

And victory! Finally Johann Zarco could win in MotoGP seven years after joining the category! Di Giannantonio finished on the podium.

O conteúdo Seven years later, here it is: Johann Zarco makes his MotoGP winning debut! Martín went from heaven to hell; Di Giannantonio on the podium aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.