Johann Zarco joked that his “ego is well filled” after quickly rediscovering his speed in the Aragon Grand Prix following a three-month injury layoff.
The LCR Honda rider decided to undergo surgery on his broken knee ligament, and his recovery went well over the summer. As a result, he was able to make an earlier-than-expected MotoGP comeback at Aragon on Friday.
Despite low expectations given his physical limitations and time away, Zarco immediately made an impression, finishing as the fastest Honda rider in practice. He even broke into the top 10 and became the only Honda rider to secure direct entry into Q2.
Asked whether he was proud of his effort, the Frenchman said: “Proud, no, but very happy to be back there. Also, it's one target inside the work of the weekend, but [I was the] only Honda in the top ten. We always compare ourselves to the other guys and it's good to come back and say, ‘OK, I'm here.’ My ego is well filled today.”
Friday marked the first time Zarco rode a MotoGP bike since his horrific accident at the first restart of the Catalan Grand Prix in May. During his time away, he could only get mileage on a supermotard and a production bike to prepare.
But the 36-year-old immediately felt comfortable on the RC213V in FP1, ending up 11th as the fastest Honda. He found another 2.3 seconds in the afternoon to secure a spot inside the top 10.
“From the first lap, it was good to start. Immediately, the speed was there and this was very cool. But the speed was there in a little different way than what I was doing before. And this was very pleasant because it's a sign that there are some keys to find to improve on this bike,” he explained.
Zarco also admitted he is not yet at full fitness, with muscle cramps still a concern. However, his strong showing in Aragon has boosted his confidence for the upcoming rounds.
With this result, Zarco proved that his experience and talent remain relevant in MotoGP. He now looks toward the main race with optimism, though he knows the road to full form is still long.
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