Pramac’s Johann Zarco played his part in a Ducati one-two perfectly on Sunday after claiming second at his home GP at Le Mans.

Recovering from a bad start and navigating the constantly changing conditions throughout the 27-lap flag-to-flag race, the Frenchman capitalised on his choice of tyre to follow fellow Ducati rider Jack Miller to glory for the Bologna outfit.

Careful to avoid the opening lap carnage while stuck in the middle of the pack, in 10th, Zarco attempted to stay on track as the rain began to fall before pitting for his wet bike. Battling the conditions as his tyres got up to temperature, the Frenchman then set about advancing his position. Moving through from fifth before eventually overtaking fellow national, Fabio Quartararo for second with six laps to go.

“I had a bad start” Zarco explained from Parc Ferme “and I also had to avoid Franko after he had some problem on the bike. So getting wide on the first corner and then into the chicane I really lost too many positions, and after just one lap some rain was coming. No one was stopping so I stay in the game and stay with them, but then second lap much more rain.

“The first target was to bring the bike to the pitlane without any crash. I did it, then I got out on the rain tyres in fifth position so it was okay, but a lot of rain and big wind also. We got wind all the weekend but not in that direction and not that strong so a few references on the track were different and my medium rear tyre needed three or four laps to get ready.

“To think about the victory, I would say that I lost time in these four laps, too many seconds I lost there but to be disappointed to miss the victory will be to think in the wrong way. I’m pretty happy to be second because then when the track got a bit more dry and the rear tyre was getting more and more comfortable to use, I was enjoying the bike and it was nice to catch the guys. I could not see Jack but after overtaking Nakagami, I could see Fabio, he was far but I knew I could catch him and after Fabio was also, again, Jack pretty far. I believed I could maybe win but as I say, not enough time.

“I didn’t use the full start devices of the Ducati. I’d been thinking if I do it or not, but on the warm up lap, I see that this first corner you have to lean a lot and I didn’t want to get too much disturbed. So it’s maybe a reason to miss the win, but also when I was in full throttle and getting speed in second and third gear, I got Morbidelli in front of me, got big movement on the bike. I didn’t know what happened so I had to the close the gas and go on the left and I think when everyone is full throttle and you close the gas, you will lose positions. So I went wide, and then the chicane was too complicated, so all combination, that’s why I lost positions, but I would say maybe closing the gas to avoid Franco was the thing that costs me the most.

“Today, we got lucky to get some rain because Fabio was ready to go away but as opponents, we have to be ready to fight against guys that can be strong in any condition. I believe in the next races that we can have more chance to win on dry or to fight against Fabio, because he will have some advantage but we’ll have some others, and that’s the nice way to play the championship.

“To get 20 points today is so nice. It’s true that I got a mistake in Portimao, but when you don’t feel so good, as I was not feeling perfectly in Jerez, was important to get those eight points.

“It’s perfect [to be back with the top guys] because when you lead the championship after the first two races in Qatar, you believe in your chance to fight for the title. I think I have enough experience. A few things are missing to be very comfortable on the Ducati but the bike is ready, the team is ready. I would say I can be ready, I just need to control always more and more the Ducati, so, if this is coming fast enough during the season, I have a big chance for the title.

“I feel the Ducati has a very high potential. I repeat this since almost a year now, to get first and second in Jerez, first and second here, is pretty good for us, I mean all Ducati. We’ve got a perfect mood, for the mechanics, for the riders and I think this will bring us strong for the next races.”