Zarco: Lorenzo's Ducati wins "very positive for me"
Johann Zarco says Jorge Lorenzo’s ability to win on the Ducati MotoGP bike is a "positive example" for him ahead of his first season on a Desmosedici in Avintia colours.

Two-time Moto2 world champion Zarco signed a deal directly with Ducati to join the customer Avintia squad aboard a GP19 late last year, despite initially shunning the link and branding Avintia “not a top team”.
The Frenchman endured a troubled half-season on the KTM last year, which led him to terminating a two-year deal early before being dismissed outright after Misano and ending up on the LCR Honda in place of an injured Takaaki Nakagami for the final three races.
Lorenzo, who retired at the end of last season after similar difficulties in adapting to the Honda, famously struggled to get to grips with the Ducati initially in 2017 after spending the first nine years of his MotoGP career at Yamaha.
But he emerged as a race winner the following season after several key upgrades – chiefly a modified fuel tank – were delivered and allowed him to properly utilise his riding style.
“Lorenzo’s example is very positive for me,” Zarco told Motosprint. “Because he has a very particular style; it is a unique style, so clean and precise that if he does not have the right feeling he cannot be fast.
“And he has always been without half measures – slow or winning with Ducati, which makes me think that Ducati engineers managed to adapt to him. When he won [at Mugello, Catalunya and Austria], we saw a pure Lorenzo.”
Building on this, Zarco called Ducati’s ability to adapt to its riders’ demands its “strong point”, and says this has “opened up more possibilities” for the likes of Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci and Pramac’s Jack Miller.
“They [Ducati] are able to go in the rider’s direction, while Honda – which has a rider as strong as Marc [Marquez] – they are more ‘conservative'.
“Ducati has opened up more possibilities with Dovizioso, Petrucci, Miller, who have podium level. That’s why I only have to work on my motivations, my determination and my speed.”

Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Though Zarco’s three-race stint on the Honda with LCR in place of Nakagami only yielded three points, he was able to “recover the feeling” he had lost while riding the KTM.
“With what I suffered with the KTM, I was delighted to recover the feeling with the Honda,” he said. “It was risky, yes, but I hadn’t been able to fast on a motorcycle that wins with Marquez, it meant that maybe it was better to quit – a bit like what happened to Lorenzo.
“I don’t know why he couldn’t feel comfortable with the Honda. Maybe due to physical problems, and I understand his decision to retire. I didn’t get a podium with the Honda, but I wasn’t slow. So the Ducati challenge doesn’t scare me.
“Of course, I couldn’t do well with the KTM, but they don’t have a motorcycle that wins races either.
“Lorenzo suffered a little and the won with the Ducati, but in general many riders with different styles have managed to do well with the Desmosedici. So, I think it’s a fairly homogenous motorcycle. That gives me confidence.”

Previous article
Ducati unveils livery for 2020 MotoGP campaign
Next article
Petrucci reveals late-2019 crisis of confidence

About this article
Series | MotoGP |
Drivers | Johann Zarco , Jorge Lorenzo |
Teams | Ducati Team , Avintia Racing |
Author | Lewis Duncan |
Zarco: Lorenzo's Ducati wins "very positive for me"
Trending
Repsol Honda Team - Pol Espargaró Q&A
Repsol Honda Team - Marc Marquez Q&A
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Alex Marquez's form was one of MotoGP 2020's biggest surprises and, by firmly stepping out of his six-time world champion brother Marc's shadow, he proved a few people wrong. Not that he cares about this, as he tells Lewis Duncan
How Yamaha's new MotoGP era can unchain Vinales
After the electrifying start to his Yamaha MotoGP career in 2017, Maverick Vinales has struggled for consistency. Many anticipate that the arrival of Fabio Quartararo could spell disaster, but the departure of Valentino Rossi could be just the impetus he needs.
Does KTM really need 'super engine' for MotoGP title challenge?
Fears from rival MotoGP manufacturers that KTM would build a 'super engine' for 2021 have ultimately come to nothing with the revealation that the RC16 hasn't been radically changed over the winter. But does it really need that to win the title?
How Ducati's latest Aussie union can return it to MotoGP glory
Australians on Ducatis is an iconic partnership, the marque's last one yielding its sole MotoGP crown to date. But its latest Aussie union with the often underestimated Jack Miller can end this drought.
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
Senna vs Prost is regularly cited as motorsport's greatest rivalry. But it can easily be argued Rainey vs Schwantz can stake that claim. That rivalry was in full swing during the 1991 500cc season, remembered fondly by both stars 30 years on...
The "warrior" MotoGP rookie KTM was right to back
The 2020 MotoGP campaign featured a standout pair of rookies, but one flew under the radar as he adjusted to a shock step-up armed with very little racing experience. However as his veteran team boss explains, the faith shown in him was not misplaced
Why Suzuki's Brivio replacement must come from within
With its charismatic leader Davide Brivio leaving for Formula 1, the Suzuki MotoGP squad he turned into a world championship-winning force in 2020 has a major recruitment headache that it needs to resolve carefully.
Why Alpine's latest signing could be its best hope of F1 glory
The return of Fernando Alonso to the renamed Alpine team is a sure sign of the team's ambition. But its latest appointment from MotoGP could be an even bigger coup as it seeks to end a barren run stretching back to Alonso's 2006 world title