Johann Zarco says he wants to achieve the same “level” of riding as four-times MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez when he steps over to KTM next year.
KTM announced on Thursday that it had agreed a two-year deal with Zarco, who will partner the recently re-signed Pol Espargaro through to the end of 2020.
During the Qatar race weekend in March, Zarco's manager Laurent Fellon confirmed contact had been made with Honda about a potential move.
Zarco admitted joining HRC would mean he would have “to be strong” like Marquez, but reasoned that riding at this level would mean he could be fast on the KTM as well as the Honda, ultimately swaying his decision to sign for the Austrian team.
“I didn't say I don't want to be team-mate to Marc,” Zarco said on Thursday at Jerez when asked about his deal with KTM.
“He's a nice guy and [being team-mates] can be interesting. What I said, and also it's the question we were thinking [about] with my coach: if you are next to Marc and if you want to win races, you have to be strong like him, maybe stronger.
“So this means I must improve a lot my riding style, and then we were thinking if you have this level of riding it means you can be fast with the KTM.
“We believe in that, and that's why we take this challenge because we were thinking if you put Marc on the KTM, where could the KTM be?
“And this is a question many guys want to know. I don't say I'm like Marc, I just say I want to reach this level or riding and see whet I will be on the KTM with that riding level.”
Marquez – who admitted earlier in the year he was not against Zarco being his team-mate – says the Frenchman will be a “good rider” for the KTM project, and says current team-mate Dani Pedrosa and championship leader Andrea Dovizioso are the best candidates to join him next year.
“Johann was one of the strong riders Honda was thinking about, he's very fast, he showed to us during these seasons that he improves every season, and I think KTM has taken a very good rider for its project,” he stated.
“So we will see now where he will arrive [on the grid], but that is one season from now, so we will see.
“About my team-mate, I only say I want a strong team-mate. Now all the pieces start to fall into place, and everybody is looking for a team.
“But I think the only two riders that are very strong [without a ride] are Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, but we will see.”
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