Source: Supplied.

Monster Yamaha Tech3 rookie Johann Zarco displayed his potential in the premier class during this week’s MotoGP test in Malaysia, ending up 11th at the conclusion of three days.

The Frenchman posted a 1m59.772s, which was just 0.404s from Movistar Yamaha newcomer Maverick Viñales at the top of the charts, quickly adapting to the satellite-spec M1 at Sepang.

“We closed the test in a positive way and I am happy about what we managed to accomplish in Malaysia, even if it was necessary to rest my body a bit today because of the energy that I had spent in the past two days,” Zarco recalled.

“In the morning we just tried to ride some good times in the low temperature and then afterwards, the plan was to run a series of constant laps in a race simulation, but even if I didn’t fully achieve this, I came close. During that time, I relaxed more on the bike but then I waited until the afternoon because of the tyre limit and I didn’t want to push too much on the used rubber and risk anything.

“When we put the last new tyre in at almost the end of the day, I was able to get under the two-minute lap mark which I am happy about because it was a target for me. We can see that many riders did this also but I am one of them so I am certainly pleased and now I am eager to see what we can do at Phillip Island.”

Fellow rookie, teammate Jonas Folger, also impressed in Malaysia, determinedly carried on his learning process as he gathered valuable experience by running a full race simulation and his personal best left him 0.944s from the head of the pack as he closed the test solidly. The next MotoGP outing will take place at the Phillip Island circuit in a fortnight.