Tech3 rider Johann Zarco says he is experiencing no “big drop” in grip on the rear tyre on the 2017 YZR-M1 Yamaha, following the conclusion of the first day of MotoGP testing at Sepang.
The double Moto2 World Champion regularly impressed in his rookie season last season on a year-old Yamaha, the Frenchman often opting for softer rubber than most and making the tyre last – something neither factory Yamaha rider could do in 2016.
Both Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales spent most of 2017 battling rear traction problems, an issue which threatened to affect Zarco's charge this year.
However, the Tech3 rider – who enjoyed a positive test on the '17 bike at Valencia – encountered no such issues at a sweltering Sepang after the first day of pre-season testing, though he admits he is still lacking in pace on fresh rubber.
“It was a good opening day,” said Zarco, who ended Sunday's running eighth fastest with a best effort of 2:00.421s.
“We started the day in wet conditions and my feeling was positive in these conditions. I began the day slowly and got used to the speed step-by-step.
“Compared to the race here in the wet, my feeling was positive and I felt competitive, plus I had a really good control of the bike.
“Later on we had nearly ideal conditions, there were not many (damp) patches on the track.
“From last year I feel a great potential with the used tyre. We don't have a big drop, which is fantastic news to prepare the entire season.
“Now we need a better performance with the new tyre to get into the 1:59s. Therefore, we just need to understand a few more things, but take it easy.”
On the other side of the Tech3 garage, Yonny Hernandez managed 47 laps and 23rd on the timesheets after his first experience of Yamaha machinery.
The Colombian – who last rode in MotoGP with the now renamed Angel Nieto team in 2016 – was brought in by Tech3 for this test to ride in place of Jonas Folger, who announced recently he was sitting out the 2018 season to focus on recovering from illness.
Speaking about his first day on the M1, Hernandez said: “I'm quite satisfied with our work today. For sure, it's not the position I wish to be in, but for the opening day it's ok as I haven't sat on a MotoGP bike for two years.
“I just tried to build my rhythm, do some laps, to understand the bike, to get to know everything in the beginning.
“I used the soft tyre and we improved a little bit. For tomorrow I hope we can progress even more and I can lap faster.”
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