It is no surprise to see Zarco on the sharp end, the Frenchman confirmed his speed during the Barcelona test giving Yamaha a 1-2 result that closed behind Vinales. No test points will be awarded, but it was a significant day where all drivers were able to build confidence in the track after the modification.
The major changes are the new asphalt and the removal of the chicane.
“I’m pretty happy to have those last two corners again – Zarco jokes – because it feels much better for the motorcycles. Plus, the new interface was really good. Today we have a lot of rubber on it because a lot of drivers drove a lot of laps and you could feel that the track got better every time. Even with the hot temperature, the feeling was good. “
Also with the M1 from Tech3, although there are no new parts.
“They worked well and we also did a great job with the team trying to prepare for the Catalan Grand Prix and at the same time we were able to gather some useful information to help prepare Mugello. We mainly had to test tires to give Michelin information to find out what split we can use here for the race and nothing special about the bike for us, we just tried to find the best balance to enjoy riding. “
Teammate Hafizh Syahrin is also pleased to have tested the wing cladding for the first time, a component that is already available to Zarco and the factory drivers.
“Compared to last year, the new asphalt is a huge step and I am very happy with it. It was my first time here on a GP bike and I already have a lot of self-confidence. We tried a few settings on the bike, I tried to improve my handling again and we took a step forward. The day was really good, except for a small crash in the afternoon that had no consequences. After that I regained my self-confidence very quickly and now I can hardly wait for Mugello. “