Breaking news
MotoGP
Zarco: Early KTM split "ripped my heart out"
Ousted KTM MotoGP rider Johann Zarco says his “heart was ripped out” by the Austrian manufacturer’s decision to drop him with immediate effect this week.
Lewis Duncan
Edited: Sep 19, 2019, 1:26 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Six-time MotoGP podium finisher Zarco was already on his way out of KTM, after he requested to have his two-year deal with the team terminated last month amid a woeful debut campaign aboard the RC16.
Enjoying his strongest weekend of the year with an eighth-place in qualifying and 11th in the San Marino Grand Prix, KTM made the shock announcement it would be dropping him from its line-up in favour of test rider Mika Kallio with six races remaining.
Read Also:
Speaking to Canal+ for the first time since the announcement, Zarco says KTM “cut me off a little bit” with its decision and admits he was “shocked” at first.
“I found out on Tuesday,” Zarco said at Aragon asked when he was made aware of KTM’s decision. “Now I'm in the paddock, I have things to get back. I'm not going to stay until the race, I'm going home early to train.
“It feels weird. 10 years of grand prix [racing] and now I was told, 'No, you don't finish the season' – even though I decided during the summer not to do next year with KTM.
“I tried to anticipate to give myself a chance to bounce back, but they cut me off a little bit.
“Not finishing is weird, something was ripped out of my stomach a little bit, my heart was ripped out, I don't know… It's not easy to digest.
“I was a little shocked at first, and when the days go by, it's like everything else, you accept it better and move on."
Zarco’s options for next year are limited, with virtually all MotoGP seats and top Moto2 seats – where he was a champion in 2015 and ’16 – gone.
He has expressed a desire to take on a role as a test rider in the premier class, and has been linked to a return to Yamaha at its European test team in place of former Tech 3 teammate Jonas Folger.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, KTM stated “developments and on-going work mean that priorities have been aligned”, suggesting this decision was taken to stop Zarco from taking any secrets with him.
When asked about his future plans, he replied: “A lot of options, maybe not, but I give the priority to MotoGP. I am currently in good shape to ride fast in MotoGP and I have to use that [in this] moment.
“I am in a MotoGP period and I want to do everything I can to be here and fight at the top. I'm dreaming about this, so right now I'm chasing after these dreams."
Read Also:
- Rossi: Zarco plight reminds me of Ducati tenure
- Zarco feared "failing my career" by staying with KTM
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Morbidelli: Quartararo is trying to "scare" rivals
Next article Marquez warns Misano Moto2 ruling sets bad precedent
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lewis Duncan
Marquez “comfortable” on Ducati MotoGP bike “but not ready for podium”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Marquez “comfortable” on Ducati MotoGP bike “but not ready for podium”
Brivio: Trackhouse offers 'great opportunity' for MotoGP and NASCAR worlds to collide
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Brivio: Trackhouse offers 'great opportunity' for MotoGP and NASCAR worlds to collide
Marini urges patience at Honda as new MotoGP season approaches
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar Official Testing
Marini urges patience at Honda as new MotoGP season approaches
More from
Johann Zarco
Johann Zarco retires from Australian GP sprint: It was “dangerous” to continue
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
Johann Zarco retires from Australian GP sprint: It was “dangerous” to continue
MotoGP 2027 grid: All confirmed rider signings
MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP 2027 grid: All confirmed rider signings
Johann Zarco: “My ego is filled” after impressive MotoGP comeback in Aragon
MotoGP
MotoGP
Aragon GP
Johann Zarco: “My ego is filled” after impressive MotoGP comeback in Aragon
More from
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
MotoGP riders resigned to racing in Qatar despite safety concerns
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
5 h
MotoGP riders resigned to racing in Qatar despite safety concerns
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
Latest news
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
WEC
WEC WEC 26 min
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Cadillac 'honoured' to have Sergio Perez as special 300th race celebration planned for Mexico GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
Cadillac 'honoured' to have Sergio Perez as special 300th race celebration planned for Mexico GP
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe