While Pramac Racing is unaffected by delays facing the MotoGP paddock in Argentina, Johann Zarco says the two-day schedule will be tough on both riders and teams this weekend.
While the final flight carrying cargo bound for Termas de Rio Honda is still in transit over South America, and now expected to touch down on Friday evening, Zarco’s team is set up and ready to go. Two satellite Ducati teams, Mooney VR46 and Gresini Racing, however, have yet to receive any of their kit.
“It will be tough for the teams that didn't receive anything because the work that you usually can do in 48 hours, they will have only one night to do it,” Zarco explained. “So it will be quite tough. Fortunately for Pramac, we got everything so we are ready.
“I think they manage well for Saturday,” he continued, reflecting on the new two-day schedule as free practice and qualifying is condensed into Saturday’s running order. “Will be a big day but enough practice to get used with the track. Also to clean the track I guess, because it's long time we're not racing here so as usual we'll have a bit of a slippery feeling and then will get better.
"Will be a big day on Saturday. For myself here, I like the track so this changing schedule I think is still good enough to hope some good results. Let's see. The biggest thing is to really get used with the tarmac and the grip on the track and for this there are some riders feeling better and some less.
"Maybe having just two days we can have a big gap between the riders compare what we’re used to, because now everybody's so close so that what makes the category very difficult. So maybe from Saturday, only one day test and then the race, maybe just some bigger gap.”
The revised schedule has brought into question whether two-day race weekends should or would become a prospect for the future. While the riders admit they will have to adapt if this is ever decided, Zarco is unsure it’s in the best interests, performance-wise.
“We were speaking about it, laughing with the team yesterday to say that almost in two days could be enough, “ he admitted before elaborating further.
"I think if you have experience, you can enjoy only two days because if the bike is ready and you have all your references on the track, you can have maybe more chance to have a great race but to work and progress as a rider and also work better technically with the bike, it's always better three days.
"Clearly, if in the future they have two days, they save money because we spend one night less in hotel and with all our village it will be some economy but was just a speech around the table. I think is not good for really the sport. More for the show, yes but not for the sport.”
Ducati riders are also getting used to the idea that the front ride height device, currently in use across the Bologna bullets, will no longer be legal in 2023 other than for race starts after protests from other manufacturers. It’s a decision the Frenchman doesn’t agree with.
“No, we'll have to use it well this year to get an advantage,” he said with a smile. “I think it's interesting for the development, because when Ducati brought it, really we got some very interesting feeling then the other brands they can do it too and you see how it's working for them. So they ban it maybe to limit a little bit this kind of development, but I don't think it was a development that makes the bike more dangerous.
"It's a pity for Ducati because they like to play with it and find the advantage but then they will adapt so I don't think it's more dangerous. We'll have to use it well this season!
