Johann Zarco admits he spoke to Repsol Honda – but “I wasn’t 100% convinced”
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The winner of Saturday’s Australian MotoGP – his first premier class victory at the 120th attempt – has already penned a deal to swap Pramac Ducati for LCR Honda next season.Since then, Marc Marquez’s exit has left a vacancy at Repsol Honda which Zarco was approached about inheriting.”I couldn’t dismiss the opportunity of the factory team,” Zarco told Sky.“I needed to think about it and [LCR owner Lucio] Cecchinello respected this. “My manager, both in Indonesia and here in Australia, spoke with the factory team. “We saw them hesitant and I didn’t like that. Zarco: “Was important to attack to not be attacked”, first MotoGP win ‘special’
“So I preferred to respect the commitment with Lucio, rather than ride a factory bike in a team with a project that I’m not 100% convinced of.”Zarco said about Cecchinello, who made it clear that he didn’t want to lose the rider: “Lucio is a nice person, he works with great seriousness and is correct.“He has been managing a satellite team for years, working together will be a great opportunity. “For him too, given that I’m a very competitive rider, I’m fighting for fifth place in the championship and I can be important for Honda’s development.”Repsol Honda’s search for a Marquez replacement has also seen them consider Maverick Vinales and Miguel Oliveira.Related Pramac boss says soft tyre gamble for Martin “was our decision” “Rome wasn’t built in one day” – Di Giannantonio wished Gresini waited
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