Johann Zarco Yamaha

Tech 3 Yamaha’s Johann Zarco thanked his team following a dramatic turnaround as the French rider qualified second fastest at Sepang in Malaysia.

Frenchman Johann Zarco says he is facing ‘a really big problem’ at Sepang this weekend after he struggled with the Tech 3 Yamaha in free practice on Friday.

Tech 3 Yamaha’s Johann Zarco hopes to finish the season as the top Independent rider after the door was left open following Cal Crutchlow’s unfortunate injury at Phillip Island in Australia.

Johann Zarco said he felt right at home ‘almost immediately’ with the Tech 3 Yamaha on Friday at Phillip Island in Australia. The Frenchman was sixth fastest with a time of 1m 29.686s set in FP2, which was half-a-second down on Andrea Iannone’s top time on the Ecstar Suzuki.

Johann Zarco made a strong start to free practice at the Japanese MotoGP on Friday as the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider hailed a ‘good day’ in the Far East. Zarco went third fastest in FP1 in the dry with a best time of 1m 45.483s, which was 0.125s back on Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso.

Frenchman Johann Zarco feels it is time to recapture his competitive edge following two difficult races in the wake of his pole and runner-up finish at his home race at Le Mans in France.