Johann Zarco and KTM will go their separate ways at the end of 2019. At the end of a weekend that should have been a home party for KTM, there was instead a cold shower that nobody had expected. Even if it isn’t exactly out of the blue, the problems between the Frenchman and KTM are clear and numerous, It probably surprised most that the breakup was announced as it was.
Yesterday, Speedweek reported on the words of KTM boss Stefan Pierer (read his statements HERE) and the news that Zarco himself has applied for the termination of his contract. It remained to be seen whether it would be possible to continue the 2019 season together or whether Johann wanted to end his adventure in Orange immediately, no less at the home game of the Austrian manufacturer.
In the press release published this morning KTM confirms the separation at the end of 2019, The Frenchman will not drive the RC16 in 2020, but will complete the remaining eight laps of this championship.
A love story between Zarco and KTM that never got off the ground as the Frenchman was unable to show the talent he had shown during his two years on the Team Tech3 Yamaha M1.
KTM doesn’t have to look for a replacement for 2020 and there has already been a change at Jack Miller, but the Australian will stay true to it Ducati from Team Pramac. The list of names available in the market is particularly limited at this point in the season and both KTM and Zarco are aware of this. The driver also has to find a solution if he wants to drive next season.
The hypothesis that brought Jorge Lorenzo to Ducati with Team Pramac could have served as the perfect domino, Miller to KTM and Zarco may be able to move to Honda, a solution that was worked on in early 2017 but one that Frenchman Fellon’s then team manager failed to complete.