New Malaysian MotoGP poleman Johann Zarco admits he was “worried” his Tech3 team would not find a solution to his sliding issues after a tough Friday on his two-year-old Yamaha.
Zarco continued his run of successive front row qualifying performances stretching back to Japan after claiming second at a wet Sepang, which later became pole after Honda's Marc Marquez was slapped with a six-place grid drop.
The Frenchman struggled throughout Friday practice to “control” his M1, and was only ninth on the combined timesheets after FP2.
Admitting he was “worried” Tech3 would not find a solution as normally it has been “impossible” to fix that issue this year, Zarco says he was “surprised” to have been so quick on Saturday.
“Would be nice to be on the podium tomorrow, looks like we can have dry conditions for the race,” began Zarco.
“In that case, we can be competitive even if I start the Friday struggling because I was not able to manage the bike, control it well, too much spin.
“I was worried, because I thought maybe we couldn't find a solution, but we found it on Saturday morning and I was happy to control the bike and be with the top guys.
“I think it was, it's coming together, but technical side gave me immediately the control of the bike that immediately yesterday I was going into the corner and feeling the rear tyre sliding, and when you start to slide it's almost impossible to fix it.
“That's why I didn't expect we can improve like that on Saturday, because normally the last races I was starting well the Friday and with a good start on Friday it's possible to do the little things.
“So I felt like I was far away and the team did a great job.”
Qualifying was run under wet conditions after heavy rain delayed Q1 by 80 minutes. Zarco says his direct progression to Q2 proved useful as it allowed him to “analyse” how the track and conditions evolved in the opening 15-minute session.
“Was great to go immediately to Q2 like this, because I was able to analyse what the riders [in Q1] were doing and how the track was in Q1.
“I spent all the time in the box to watch that practice, and I think the grip level was quite ok. It's sliding in the wet, it's not good grip like Czech Republic or in Japan, but safe enough when it's constant level of water.
“It was not a lot of water when we had qualifying, and that's why we were able to try to do things.”
