Does Zarco copy Mir's strategy to become MotoGP champion?

The Pramac Ducati rider has achieved four podium finishes – all of them second positions – in seven grand prix so far in 2021, the last one at the last Catalan Grand Prix , when victory narrowly escaped him against Miguel Oliveira.

In five seasons (with this one) in MotoGP, Zarco has 11 podiums, but he has not yet achieved victory although he has come close to achieving it on several occasions.

14 points behind the lead held by his compatriot Fabio Quartararo, the two-time Moto2 champion says that the most important thing for him is to keep adding and he is convinced that victory will come with time.

“For me it will be nice to win, but it is clear that second place, 20 points, is always incredible,” he says. “I’m not too worried about winning and I don’t put too much pressure on myself because I think it can come when everything is under control.”

“I’m still growing with this bike and it’s a nice feeling. I feel that the Ducati has great potential, I’m trying to do my best to get it better and better, and when everything is under control maybe I’ll get the victory.”

Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing

Asked by Motorsport.com if his strategy was inspired by the one Joan Mir followed last season to win the title, Zarco replied: “Joan Mir’s last year is a great example of this type of strategy, but it’s not the I have at the beginning of the weekend”.

“We have tried to do everything possible to win, but there is still something missing. Let’s say maybe half a lap more or one more lap I could have won, but 24 laps is enough. I just should have been a little faster at the beginning, something I didn’t do”, he explained regarding the Catalan GP .

“This can give me an advantage at the end of the year. It is clear that we have to be careful with Fabio, because he has been very fast this weekend and, without the problem, I think he was waiting behind Miguel [Oliveira] to attack him, but he had the problem. So we took advantage. It is more important to get more points than him at this moment than the victory”, ditch.

All the podiums and winners of the 2021 MotoGP season

Qatar Grand Prix: Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

1 / 14

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Podium: 1st Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing; 2nd Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing; 3rd Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

2 / 14

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Doha Grand Prix: Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

3 / 14

Photo by: Yamaha MotoGP

Podium: 1st Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing; 2nd Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing; 3rd Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

4 / 14

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Gran Premio de Portugal: Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

5 / 14

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Podium: 1st Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing; 2nd Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team; Joan Mir, Suzuki MotoGP Team

6/14 _

Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Gran Premio de España: Jack Miller, Ducati Team

7 / 14

Photo by: Dorna

Podium: 1st Jack Miller, Ducati; 2nd Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati; 3rd Morbidelli, Petronas Yamaha SRT

8/14 _

Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

French Grand Prix: Jack Miller, Ducati Team

9 / 14

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Podio: 1º Jack Miller, Ducati; 2º Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing; 3º Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

10 / 14

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Italian Grand Prix: Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

11 / 14

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Podium: 1st Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing; 2nd Miguel Oliveira, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing; 3rd Joan Mir, Team Suzuki MotoGP

12 / 14

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Catalunya Grand Prix: Miguel Oliveira, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

13 / 14

Photo by: MotoGP

Podium: 1st Miguel Oliveira, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing; 2nd Johann Zarco, Pramac Racing; 3rd Jack Miller, Ducati Team

14 / 14

Photo by: MotoGP