Indonesian MotoGP: Zarco: 'We don’t have a winning package yet', KTM a surprise

Despite a first podium of the season in Mandalika, Johann Zarco says Ducati 'don’t have the full package' to win MotoGP races at present.
Johann Zarco, Indonesian MotoGP, 19 March 2022
Johann Zarco, Indonesian MotoGP, 19 March 2022
© Gold and Goose

While ꦏ🅘Ducati’s new Desmosedici GP22 was expected to challenge for immediate MotoGP wins, special circumstances are their best chance of claiming victory, says Johann Zarco. 

The Pramac rider, who is one of three🦩 riders to be using the completely new GP22 engine - factory riders Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller elected for a hybrid between the GP21 and 22 - has not lacked pace comparable to other top runners, however, extracting the f𒐪ull potential is proving to be challenging at best. 

"We are still working on the GP22," said Zarco. "We still don’t have the full package to have the൩ winning bike yet. So we are working on it. 

"Argentina I think can be a good track for us, it’s a track I like. For the next😼 races we will see because each race is differ🤪ent. 

"You ca𝔍n always get surprises. Here, (Mandalika) I expected to really struggle but I was competitive all weekend, plus the ra♒in on Sunday helped me to be on the podium. 

"I’m hoping to get꧒ a better control of the bike. As soon as we get t🔯his, I will be able to enjoy more and be stronger."

In terms of a team/rider pairing who is not 🦹struggling to e🀅xtract the full potential of its bike is the full factory Red Bull KTM line-up of Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira. 

And although Zarco expects many different riders to claim podiums and wins throughout the year, the imme𓆏diate success of Binder (second in Qatar) and Oliveira (won ♉in Indonesia) has surprised the former two-time Moto2 champion.

Zarco added: "I think this is the nice thing abouꦓt this catꦺegory for two years now. The gap is so close and you can have different guys on the podium. 

"Clearly, to fight fo💝r the championship the most consistent one who is there (podium) will be in the top three at the end of the season. The podium in Qatar was something we didn’t expect, and here, the start from Miꦗguel was really incredible. I think there will be different guys, but they will be there."

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