The rain-soaked race at Motegi on Sunday came to a screeching halt during the 14th lap due to the downpour. However, just seconds before the red flag came out, disaster struck for Johann Zarco. As he navigated through the tunnel section into Turn 12, he found himself losing control of his Ducati and sliding off the track. In that moment, Zarco’s hopes of finishing the race in a commendable position were dashed.
Despite managing to bring his bike back to pitlane within the allocated five minutes, Zarco was left heartbroken. As per Article 1.25.1 of the FIM sporting regulations, he failed to satisfy the requirement of crossing the designated pitlane entry timing point with his motorcycle. Instead, Zarco had pushed his bike back using the adjacent service road. This technicality left him unable to participate in the ultimately abandoned restart and resulted in him not being classified in the final results.
Understandably, Zarco’s emotions were running high after the race. Speaking about the incident, he expressed his frustration, saying, “I’m not even finishing in sixth position. I should have crossed the two-metre-wide line of the 60km/h pitlane [entry], and because I have been five meters on the side, they don’t count it. So, for this reason, I am quite angry.” It was evident that Zarco believed he had been deprived of a well-deserved sixth-place finish due to a technicality.
Despite the disappointment, Zarco did find solace in certain positive aspects of the race. After avoiding a crash at the first corner, he took advantage of the changing weather conditions and switched to rain tires. This decision paid off as he managed to make up a significant amount of time and gain positions. However, as the rain intensified, leading to the necessary red flag, Zarco found himself losing control once again due to aquaplaning. Although he successfully brought his bike back to the pitlane, his result was not recognized.
The incident in Motegi serves as a stark reminder of how easily a rider’s fortunes in a race can change. Zarco’s ability to navigate through the challenging conditions and his determination to regain lost time should be acknowledged. It is unfortunate that his efforts were not fully recognized due to a technicality. The frustration and anger that Zarco expressed are justified, as he was denied the opportunity to secure a well-deserved sixth-place finish.
Had Zarco adhered to the pitlane entry regulation, his sixth-place standing would have remained intact as the race result was decided based on the 12th lap. Instead, this incident drastically affected his position in the final classification. The disappointment of missing out on a significant points haul and the chance to enhance his reputation as a skilled rider cannot be understated.
How Zarco and his team choose to bounce back from this setback will be crucial to their future performances. This incident should serve as motivation for Zarco to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence. While the frustration of Motegi will linger, it is essential for the French rider to maintain focus and channel this energy into future races. With his talent and determination, Zarco has the potential to achieve great success in the world of MotoGP, and this incident should only serve as a mere stumbling block in his journey.
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