‘I was so scared’: Zarco revels in first win he doubted would ever come

First-time MotoGP winner Johann Zarco has admitted to doubting whether he had what it takes to win in the premier class in the lead-up to his maiden victory in a corking Australian Grand Prix.

French veteran Zarco snatched the lead from Pramac teammate Jorge Martin in a thrilling five-rider last-lap duel with eight corners remaining to take the chequered flag for the first time.

Zarco had been searching for his maiden victory for the better part of seven seasons in MotoGP, a prospect that would have seemed unthinkable when he debuted in the sport as a double Moto2 champion.

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His journeyman-like career had taken him via Yamaha, KTM and Honda before arriving at Ducati in 2020, and he’s set to return to Honda via its satellite LCR team next year.

The Frenchman said the 120-race wait for his first winners trophy had had him doubting whether he was cut out to stand on the top step.

“I got this feeling like a weight getting off the shoulders,” he explained. “Knowing you have the best bike but not the perfect feeling and that the others are so competitive, you try your best, but it’s hard to find opportunities.

“Maybe on the day that you can do it there’s another [rider] that’s more competitive than you.

“You a still have to push, but it’s hard.”

It was an opportunistic move that got him the lead.

Zarco had moved to the head of a four-rider pack pursuing the fading Martin and sliced down his teammate’s inside to take the lead at Miller Corner, but title leader Bagnaia attempted a double pass on the apex, forcing the Frenchman to react.

He nixed Bagnaia’s attempt on first place on corner exit, but even then he said he was racked with worry that he would trip himself up in the eight remaining turns to the finish line.

The long last turn, where traction is critical to ensure acceleration down the long straight, was his last challenge, and Zarco said his first thought approaching the final hurdle was that he would be caught out by his pursuer.

“The last corner was this feeling that I know I have good drive but it feels in your throttle like you don’t have any power,” he said. “You are scared maybe to get passed on the line.

“I was so scared on the last corner of trying to open the throttle but having nothing.”

But the thrilling race that delivered him victory — requiring him to exercise astute judgement, precise racecraft and devastating speed — banished those worries in an instant as he crossed the line.

“Today has been really a great race for me,” he said. “I was quite fast from the beginning and then controlling well the tyre behind Pecco.

“I really didn’t think about the victory. Jorge was in the front with the soft rear tyre, he was controlling very well. But I have been amazed with the way it was dropping in the last five laps.

“From the last five laps I began to understand that something was really possible, to catch something fantastic. I’m so happy I did it.”

Punching out of the final turn successfully and taking the flag 0.201 seconds ahead of Bagnaia, Zarco said he felt no instantaneous joy or jubilation, only relief.

“Everything felt calm in that moment. It was not an explosion, it was calm: ‘It’s done’.

“Phillip Island is also a special track that everyone loves. I feel even strong feeling to cross the line in first position here in Phillip Island.”

It had been 2533 days since his last victory — in the Moto2 class at the 2016 Valencia Grand Prix — and he harked back to those bountifully successful weekends in the intermediate class with a backflip off a tyre barrier.

He was rusty after so long between stunts, but he stuck the landing to much applause.

“I was not thinking about it, then during the lap I said, ‘I have to do it’,” he said. “I didn’t do a very nice backflip. It’s normal after seven years you miss a bit of skill!

“But at least I landed on my feet, and the crowd was so happy to share it with me.”

With four grands prix remaining with Pramac Ducati before switching to the more lowly LCR Honda, it may not be the last success he lands now the monkey is off his back.