News 18 May 2018

Zarco highly-motivated for home grand prix victory at Le Mans

Home-crowd energy to provide a boost for the Frenchman.

Source: Supplied.

Tech 3 Yamaha’s Johann Zarco has declared his hunger for a career-first victory in the MotoGP World Championship this weekend at Le Mans in France, marking his home grand prix in the 19-stop tour.

Zarco recorded his first podium in the premier class at the venue in 2017 during his rookie MotoGP campaign, and his since been on the cusp of victory after lodging a number highly-impressive results.

“I’m pretty happy to come to my home grand prix being second in the championship,” Zarco explained. “I got a nice but also lucky podium in Jerez, but this gave me a very high motivation and a big smile to start the French GP. I hope that the weather will be good, but even if we have some rain, I know my Yamaha bike well now and I know that I have to relax on it in any case.

“Last year was one of the best races of the season, because in Le Mans I got my first ever MotoGP podium. I would like to fight for the victory, therefore I have to stay cool, work well with the team and we will see what will happen.

“I think the fact that all our fans will be there will deliver some more positive energy, maybe also some pressure, but I will change this pressure to even more positive energy, so we cross our fingers and arrive in Le Mans with full power.”

The Frenchman sits second in the championship standings and is the first Yamaha on the leaderboard, ahead of factory-backed Movistar Yamaha duo Maverick ViƱales and Valentino Rossi.

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