Johann Zarco made an impressive start to the weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after finishing fifth overall in Friday’s sessions for Castrol Honda LCR.
The French rider posted a best lap of 1:38.789 and looked competitive from the opening session of the day, showing strong pace on a circuit he has traditionally enjoyed.
Zarco admitted the layout suits his riding style and said he immediately felt comfortable on the bike despite the challenging track conditions.
“This is a circuit I really like, and I’m pretty happy with the lap time,” said Zarco. “It felt really good. I enjoy riding here because my riding style suits this layout.”
Changing weather conditions during the afternoon Practice session added another layer of difficulty, but Zarco and the LCR Honda crew managed to stay consistent. A late flying lap secured the Frenchman a direct place in Q2 ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.
Although pleased with the result, Zarco acknowledged there is still work to do, particularly in managing grip levels and improving the bike’s behaviour through Barcelona’s fast corners.
“We know the grip level is low, and the bike’s behaviour in these conditions is quite demanding,” he explained. “We need to find a smoother flow through the fast corners to improve the lap times.”
Barcelona has often been one of Zarco’s stronger circuits, and Friday’s performance reinforced hopes of a competitive weekend for both rider and team. With a Q2 position already secured, the focus now shifts to qualifying and finding the best possible grid slot for the Sprint race.
“We’re working hard on that, and the important thing today is that we secured a place in Q2,” Zarco added. “Now we’ll try to do the best job possible to secure a strong position on the grid for the Sprint.”
