Johann Zarco will take on the Malaysian MotoGP with an updated Honda RC213V, following a 10th-place finish at the rain-soaked Thai Grand Prix.
Both he and teammate Luca Marini faced rear grip issues, impacting their corner entry and exit speeds. The new upgrades this weekend are focused on improving rear grip.
“I will have some updates,” Zarco said ahead of the Malaysian GP. “The updates are to help the acceleration, but the same one can help the braking area, the first moment of braking.”
Despite the expected challenges, Zarco is aiming for another top-10 result. “If we can confirm another top-10, it would be so cool,” he explained.
“It’s a bigger track than the last two circuits we did, and when it’s kind of bigger, we lose a bit more time…we have more difference with the top guys.”
In addition to the mechanical upgrades, Zarco is focused on refining his braking technique, a weakness he noticed in Thailand’s wet conditions.
“I want to keep improving my feeling on the brakes. I discovered that in the wet in Thailand I’ve been struggling in this area,” he said.
“I hope I can focus myself on a precise area of the riding, and I will try to do that during this weekend.”
Looking at the Sepang circuit, Zarco predicts some sections will suit the Honda well, though he anticipates trouble in the final turns due to acceleration demands.
“I guess the weak point will be the second-last turn, turn 14, maybe a bit of turn 15, which is like an acceleration,” he noted. “But…I hope turn three, four, five, six can be good for us, even seven and eight.”
However, Zarco knows that only Friday’s practice will reveal the bike’s true potential. “It’s difficult to say before the Friday. But as soon as I see the lap times on Friday morning, I will know if we can really hope for Q2 or not.”