Johann Zarco is adamant he can “bring KTM to the top” in MotoGP, but says he “will need time”, as he continues to struggle to adapt to the RC16.
Double Moto2 world champion Zarco turned down interest from Honda to pen a two-year deal with KTM early last year, but has so far found the transition from Yamaha machinery in Tech3 colours to the RC16 difficult.
Zarco has taken just a point at both of the races run so far in 2019, and is currently last of the scorers in 19th in the championship, trailing rookie Miguel Oliveira on the Tech3 KTM by three points.
In an interview with motogp.com, Zarco revealed he “understood” after his first test on the RC16 in Valencia last November that he would be “able to bring the bike up”, despite ending it two seconds off the pace.
“I will be able to bring KTM to the top, but I will need time,” he said.
“The KTM adventure was a big decision, but it was the overall decision to go into a factory team to give me an opportunity to have all the guys around me and the brand pushing for the title.
“First impression I got [in Valencia] was a nice impression. I really enjoyed using the bike easy and turning every corner, feeling the engine.
“The first contact gave me a smile. Also maybe [I was] expecting I can do immediately a better job and immediately bring the KTM on the top.
“But after the first test, we understood I will be able to bring the bike up, but with a lot of work and a lot of time.”
Zarco admits he is unsure if he is maintaining the level of riding which took him to podiums with Tech3 over the past two seasons, or if he has lost it, and says he has to face his current situation with a lot of “wisdom”.
“You have to really calm yourself down and have a lot of wisdom, to control my nerves because if you get nervous you lose control of the situation, you lose the control of yourself also,” he added.
“The most difficult thing in that time is to not lose my riding level. I don't have many solutions to know if I'm keeping well my riding level or if I'm losing my riding capacity.
“So from that I really need to push all the time to give the best and at least have no regrets.
“You have to face it with a lot of maturity and understand that the situation is maybe complicated in the present day, but it doesn't mean that will be the same tomorrow.”
