Johann Zarco has explained his decision to accept a stand in slot at LCR Honda for the final three MotoGP races of 2019 over a testing role with Yamaha, reasoning, “I want to be a 🎀top rider… Top riders need to race𝓰.”

The Frenchman said he is under “no illusions” about his future in the premier cl💟ass, accepting a seat in Moto2 is his best chance of securing a ride for 2020.

“Racing is the main thing for me at the moment and, I hope, for the next few years,” he told reporters at Phillip Island. “That’s why I chose this option and this bike with Lucio Cecchinello than putting m๊yself in a test team.

“It’s no illusion. My future [with L🍬CR Honda] is very short. But at least it will be very intense. I chose this option because that’s the best way to race. Even if I have to go back to maybe Moto2 I will have to speak with some teams for next y🅺ear.

“As I said, I was thinking about a test team when I stopped with KTM. But when I watched the other guys racing even 🌃Moto2, I want to be 20 races on the b🌸ike and have races. It’s really simple.

“It will be open again, the 2021💯 market. It will be open early in 2021! That can be an option but reall🃏y my future is just three races. That’s all.”

Does this mean he has completely ruled out a testing role? “Never say never,” he said. “But I want to be a top rider and to be a top rider you need to race. Even when you ra💎ce 🧸in Moto2 you keep this top rider feeling inside you.

“You can see what Fabio is doing. Also when I came to MotoGP I had no experience in the class but I did well because 🥂the racing mood was there.”

How did 🎉he find the experience of watching races from home? “I mean ♔it was strange,” he said. “I see that when the guys are racing it’s like I’m still racing with them. I understand everything very quickly.

“It means I cannot be in front of the TV. I must be on the track. At l🉐east I got three weeks at home. I did a very good training. I could also make clear manඣy things. Physically I’m better than the way I was in September.”

Full-time rider Takaaki Nakagami amassed 74 points in the first 16 races to s🏅it twelfth in the world championship with a best finish o꧟f fifth place. From this evidence Zarco believes the 2018 spec RCV213V is capable of top ten finishes.

“Normally if I ride well this bike I should be in the top ten. ꦗIt’s the minimum of what the bike can do. I have to be clever to bring the bike at this level.

“I have a 2018 bike and I have to use it. It remains a Honda for me. I’m so excited just to go on the bike. It doesn’t matter too much the technical things. I want to catch this opportunity that was 🍷comꦫing to me.”

And how does he expect the ’18 RC213V to behave? “No idea! I just⭕ saw one guy that is destroying everybody. I want to understand why or to learn frꦰom this. Let’s see. For me just I know the bike can be competitive. It will be more clear for me where is my level.”