Johann Zarco 'happy' with podium, but 'I expected more' from Indonesian MotoGP
The Pramac Ducati rider, who started from third on the grid, made a relatively pedestrian start as he lost places to Alex Rins, Jack Miller and eventual Mandalika MotoGP winner Miguel Oliveira.
Back in fifth place during the early stages, it looked like Zarco was biding his time before making a move further forward, however, that’s not how it turned.
Fabio Quartararo to Jack Miller: ‘Watch the TV, I did nothing wrong!’
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While his pace was very strong, in fact, Zarco was the fastest rider on-track on more than one occasion, it was a lack of confidence to push in the early laps and a being unable to make overtakes stick that cost the Frenchman a potential first MotoGP win.
Always one to impress in wet conditions, Zarco managed to find his rhythm as the race developed, and after getting past Suzuki rider Alex Rins for fourth, the former two-time Moto2 champion reeled in fellow Ducati rider Miller in the space of two laps.
However, a lack of drive coming out of corners was evidently holding him back from attacking the way in which he wanted, instead leaving the 31 year-old with too much to do under braking.
While ‘happy’ to secure a first podium of the season, Zarco felt a chance had gone missing given his pace: "Happy for the podium but I expected a bit more. There was a high level of water at the beginning of the race and I took too much time to find my confidence.
"I was so impressed by Miguel [Oliveira] and Jack [Miller] because immediately they can get a very fast pace. Also, I’ve lost a little bit of time behind Rins but more behind Jack.
"At that moment I thought I could go really fast and maybe catch Miguel or save second place before Fabio [Quartararo] overtook me. But I was losing a bit too much on the drive and was spinning on corner exit.
"Even if I was strong on the brakes, it was not a good balance to overtake the others quickly. I tried to do my best, but when Fabio overtook me I saw that I was totally losing the podium.
"I have to push even more and I got Jack. I think he was struggling with rear grip on the right side.
"I pushed the last two laps to try and catch Fabio but he was also feeling really good. Two laps were not enough."
