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Tech3 rider Johann Zarco believes there is “no solution” to Yamaha’s recent MotoGP problems following another dismal showing for the brand in the Aragon Grand Prix.
Yamaha’s winless streak in MotoGP is now up to 23 races, and it has failed to even score a podium finish in the past four race weekends.
Zarco, along with factory riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales, has struggled for most of the season despite a strong start, failing to take a top-six result since Jerez in May.
Yamaha’s long-standing rear traction issues were accentuated at Aragon, owing to both the layout of the track and high temperatures, and Zarco insists there is nothing he or his Tech crew to combat the issue.
“There is no solution because if you try to go fast into the corner you slide,” said Zarco, who is leaving Tech3 for the works KTM team in 2019.
“If you try to slow down to have better acceleration, the bike doesn’t have acceleration so then I don’t know where can I go.
“We’ve known that for a long time now and we know that we have to play with it, to ride with it.
“The problem is when you are in that position I am now, it is sad because you give all that you have to give and then you even wonder if you are OK or not as a rider.”
Zarco had his worst race result of the year so far at Aragon, where he finished 14th.
He said he “can’t enjoy” riding his two-year-old Yamaha bike as he was not even able to join a group fighting for 10th.
“I had a good start and could fight a little bit with [Danilo] Petrucci, that was fun at the beginning of the race, but immediately this first group were going away and I could not follow them,” Zarco explained.
“Then for me the race was worse and worse, every lap.
“Fighting for the 10th position with [Franco] Morbidelli, Bradley [Smith], [Takaaki] Nakagami and [Maverick] Vinales, it could be fun but I am struggling too much to fight.
“That is pretty sad because I would like at least to enjoy it but I am fighting against the bike more than how I can ride it.
“It is too many races that I have been in this situation but I need to every time give the best and hope that for the next races I can have a better feeling maybe thanks to a different track.”
Zarco reckons his good form at the end of 2017 and in the beginning of ’18 was down to him reaching the full potential of his bike while rivals were underperforming.
“Last year and the way we began the season this year, I think we were using most of the time 100% of the bike, better than what the others were doing,” he said.
“But now this 100% is not enough, and this makes the biggest difference, because I cannot find other reasons.”