Zarco: I could analyse everything, I just need to push

Without double-digit points since Jerez in May, Johann Zarco used the brief MotoGP summer break to ‘analyse everything’ as he seeks to break back into the top five at Brno this weekend.

Despite the recent slump, the Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider remains tied with factory Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso for fourth in the world championship standings, as the leading satellite rider.

“The Brno circuit is a very nice track, which I like a lot,” Zarco said. “I hope I will have a very good feeling again and be able to give some great information to my guys.

“To be back in the top five would be fantastic. Let’s wait and see how the weather will be. Maybe it rains, as we know from last year, it can disturb the race. It was very tricky in 2017, so we need to do it better.

“After the summer break I feel pretty good. I could analyse everything and I know that I just need to push.”

Team manager Herve Poncharal added: “[At the end of the first half of the season] Johann was not in a positive mood like in the first races of the year, so hopefully we find the Johann back we had in Qatar, Argentina, Texas, Spain and France.

“I spoke to him and he seems to be really positive, full of enthusiasm and with the desire to be back.”

Zarco’s team-mate Hafizh Syahrin arrives in the Czech Republic having taken the Rookie of the Year lead by three points from the absent Franco Morbidelli last time in Germany.

“The Brno track is very good for me, so I try my best again. I want to fight for the Rookie of the Year award, therefore my main target is to bring home as many points as possible in order to open a gap to my fellow rookies, especially to Franco Morbidelli,” said the Malaysian.

“I’m ready to come back after the summer break, physically and mentally I feel well prepared. I’m just focused on the rookie challenge, first in Czech Republic and then also for the remaining nine rounds. I hope the weather in Brno will be nice and not as tricky as last year.”