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Zarco and Tech3 continue successful partnership in 2018
The Monster Yamaha Tech3 team and the soaring sensation Johann Zarco have reached an agreement that the two-time Moto2 world champion will stay with the French team for the 2018 season. The 26-year-old got off to an excellent start in the current campaign, where he underscored his outstanding talent by immediately adapting to the 1000cc Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP machine. His impressive performance has triggered the option for a second year at Tech3 and he will continue to fight for top positions.
Johann ZARCO
“I am very happy to know that I will continue my MotoGP experience with Monster Yamaha Tech3 in 2018. Right now I’m enjoying an incredible debut in this category, where I’ve learned a lot, and the team has given me confidence for the next year, which is just fantastic. I would like to thank my manager Laurent Fellon for helping me at all times and also the people who have supported me since I started in the World Cup. We can see that Tech3 is a great team because if we push it is possible to get a strong result. I am very happy but this is just the beginning and I will keep learning and growing so that I can fight for podiums on a regular basis and when I get to that level I plan to keep going for as long as possible. In 2018 the rules won’t change and I will have a full year of experience, that will certainly help me to get to the top. “
Hervé PONCHARAL
Team manager
“This news is incredibly good for me and the entire Monster Yamaha Tech3 team, but it is also positive for MotoGP racing around the world and in France in particular. We can announce that Johann Zarco has decided to stay with us for the 2018 season. Perhaps he could have waited a little longer to make this decision, but he told me he was happy and ready to stand up for us. We are very proud to have this trust from Johann. He’s already brought some great things to the team, like great excitement and joy, but he also gave us some pride back. I’m sure the best is yet to come, but what he’s done in the first four laps is really impressive. I would like to thank Johann’s manager Laurent Fellon for his great commitment and if Johann performs like this, it is because Laurent took good care of him and helped him grow into the rider he is. We are more than happy to keep ZF with us, Z for Zarco and F for Fellon, and now we can continue to fight with a lot of vigor for the rest of the 2017 season. Also, we can go out and try to find the partners who will be by our side in 2018. I want to thank Johann and Laurent, so we hope this news will help him to be as strong as the crowd expects to see him at his home GP here at Le Mans. “