LCR Honda rider Johann Zarco admitted his Thai MotoGP race was “better than I expected” after finishing in seventh place.
The Frenchman crossed the line as the lead Honda rider after factory rider Joan Mir crashed out of proceedings.
Hondas first weekend of 2025 showed positive signs as Zarco’s seventh place already bettered its best 2024 result.
“I’m quite happy with this 7th position because it was what I was hoping for, but you never know if you’re going to get what you want.
“The strategy of using a different tyre from the Sprint turned out to be quite good and I’m happy to have improved with this bike and to have the sensations I need.
“The first 10 laps were perhaps the most difficult for me because I had to try to manage the medium rear tyre, while the others were able to battle a bit more with the soft.
“I kept my composure when I saw Morbidelli and Ogura go away and stayed in the group near 10th position, hoping I could do something good in the final stages.
“It was tough, but with 15 laps to go I told myself that I had to be patient because I knew I had managed the rear tyre well and hoped that at some point there would come a time when I would be strong and could take advantage of having the medium compound.
“That moment came when there were 10 laps to go, I stayed focused and got closer to those ahead of me to try and pass them.
Zarco admitted he chose to bring the bike home despite closing in on Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi.
“Finding myself in seventh position anyway, I didn’t want to risk ruining the moment by making a mistake. I am quite happy with this result, which gives us great hope for the upcoming races.
“In a long and difficult race like this one, we finished with a 15-second gap from the leaders, and I would say it went perhaps better than I expected.”
Johann Zarco another victim who suffered burns during race
Johann Zarco was another victim of the scorching hot weather who suffered burns during the 26-lap race.
The two-time Moto2 champion stated that it made things more “difficult” in the race but it wasn’t “dangerous” to himself or his fellow competitors.
“I also got burned on my calf,” Zarco revealed to GPOne.
“But it didn’t just happen to us Honda riders; Miller also burned his calf and Brad Binder got burns. All the bikes have struggled in the heat.
“It is more difficult [to ride], but not to the point where it becomes dangerous. It’s simply too hot for the bikes, but it could start to be dangerous if the engine starts to break down, because the failure of the engine could lead to the rear wheel locking up.
“While it does have the problem of the burns, I don’t think it is too dangerous. Even at the Suzuka 8 Hours, the CBR was hot because of the high temperatures, and the heat from the engine in sixth gear burned my right foot.”
