Breaking news
MotoGP Japanese GP
Zarco shows Yamaha "paying" for engine choice – Vinales
Johann Zarco’s qualifying pace at Motegi shows that Yamaha is “paying” for making the wrong choice of MotoGP engine this year, according to Maverick Vinales.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Oct 20, 2018, 2:10 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Tech 3 rider Zarco – using a two-year old Yamaha chassis and engine combination – qualified second at Motegi, falling short of polesitter Andrea Dovizioso by just 0.068s in the pole shootout.
Factory pair Vinales and Valentino Rossi by contrast could only manage seventh and ninth places respectively, although the latter did not improve in the second runs due to his Yamaha team making a mistake with tyre pressures.
Pressed on why Zarco was so quick, Vinales said it was down to the Frenchman’s two-year-old engine, which he had sampled in pre-season testing, and allows for easier engine braking.
"The difference with Zarco is that he has another engine, and that's why he can stop the bike better than me," Vinales told Spanish TV network Movistar.
"It's easy to know why he is going faster, because he has another engine, different. It was an engine that I liked when I tried it, in the pre-season I also took it and I still liked it.
“But in the end, we had to go with this engine [the 2018 version] and now we are paying for it.”
He added: “I'm trying to find the grip, I need to reduce a lot the speed to enter the corner. That's one of the points I feel Johann is much faster than us.
“He can brake in the same point but with less pressure, using the tyres.”
Rossi, who has pinpointed the Yamaha engine as a weakness of the 2018 M1 bike along with its electronics, simply put Zarco’s pace down to Motegi being among the Frenchman’s circuit.
“Zarco here in Motegi is always strong, it’s one of his best tracks,” he said.
“He rode very well, he did a good qualifying. I think it will be hard tomorrow with him, but we try.”
Zarco has yet to finish on the podium since May’s Jerez race, where he came second, his form having tailed off in particular after he crashed out of the lead in his home grand prix at Le Mans.
The Tech 3 man said Dovizioso and Marc Marquez, who starts sixth at Motegi, will be the riders to beat, but that he is still harbouring hopes of challenging them for what would be a first-ever MotoGP win.
“I don’t close that door, for the victory,” said Zarco. “You never know what will happen. An opportunity tomorrow is that they [Dovizioso and Marquez] are fighting for the title.
“When you are on track, you start [to see if] there is something to catch, and I will see. Being second place [on the grid] is this chance to see what happens in the race and see if I have the chance.”
Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont
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 Rossi laments Yamaha tyre pressure "mistake"
Next article Marquez lacked “confidence” on second bike after crash
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Johann Zarco
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
Johann Zarco set to return at Aragon GP after terrifying Barcelona accident
MotoGP
MotoGP
Aragon GP
Johann Zarco set to return at Aragon GP after terrifying Barcelona accident
More from
Yamaha Factory Racing
MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events
Risky or good for the show? MotoGP riders divided on 2027 weekend format change
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
Risky or good for the show? MotoGP riders divided on 2027 weekend format change
Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride
Latest news
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 7 h
Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
7 h
How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
7 h
Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
13 h
Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links
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