Johann Zarco and Fabio Quartararo experienced a German Grand Prix of two halves. The first saw his hopes fade despite good qualifying. The latter snatched a podium in the sprint before expressing fatigue in the race. The weekend confirmed the limitations of the Maralpins’ machines in mixed conditions.
Qualifying for this new MotoGP weekend had raised French hopes with good momentum. On a wet and demanding Sachsenring circuit, Johann Zarco made it to the front row, clocking the second-fastest time behind Marc Marquez. Fabio Quartararo started seventh, in a less favorable position, but not without ambition.
Saturday’s sprint was a 15-lap challenge on a still-soaked track. Fabio Quartararo, without too much faith in himself, took advantage of the conditions to step onto the podium. An aggressive start allowed him to climb four positions in the first two corners. He then consistently held off his pursuers until the checkered flag. “I didn’t think I could keep up such a pace, but anyway, it feels good,” he told Canal+, smiling. “I managed to start really strong and keep up the pace, so I’m quite happy.”
This podium, achieved in rainy conditions, contrasts sharply with his performances in the dry. The Frenchman himself pointed out the difference in his bike’s behavior depending on the conditions: “In the dry, it’s something we can’t do at all […] We have to manage it.”
On his side, Johann Zarco had everything to succeed in a good sprint. Second on the grid, he opted for a medium rear tire. A choice that had already paid off in qualifying. But this time, the gamble didn’t work. The tire never reached the ideal temperature. The result: an unstable bike and a disappointing seventh place. “Everything was there for it to work the same, or even better, and the tire worked less well,” he acknowledged after the race.
Zarco, frustrated, quickly accepted the technical reality while keeping in mind the points he recovered. But this race was a missed opportunity for him. He had hoped for better, especially in conditions that usually favored him.
**Sunday turns into disillusion**
The next day, the main race over 30 laps confirmed that the sprint results didn’t set a lasting trend. Fabio Quartararo, although finishing in fourth place, left the track bitter and frustrated. He had fought, climbing back after a complicated start, but never felt any mastery of his Yamaha. “I had no feeling from the first to the last lap. […] We work but there are no results, so it’s very difficult,” he said to Canal+.
According to him, the problems are multiple: lack of grip, power, aerodynamics, and unreliable electronics in changing conditions. He even mentioned a feeling of weariness with the repeated findings every weekend. “It’s tiring to keep repeating the same things […] The comments are exactly the same, and we can’t find that little extra.”
For the Nice native, the Yamaha team seems to be treading water. The occasional adjustments no longer suffice to compensate for structural shortcomings. And while qualifying results remain decent, the bike doesn’t hold up in the race.
At Honda, Johann Zarco also ended his weekend on a bitter note. After a good start, he was on the right pace and aimed for a sixth place. But a crash deprived him of any points. Once again, a tire temperature issue ruined his efforts. The front didn’t heat up. The result: the bike went down in a turn approached cautiously. “When you look, the tire was below 70 degrees at the front […] It’s just not lucky,” he analyzed after the race.
Very skilled in race strategy, the Cannes native mentioned a scenario he might have avoided, perhaps, by repositioning behind another rider. He targeted his compatriot, whom he could have followed to build pressure. But he attempted to attack, and the risk didn’t pay off as he ended up crashing. “The sixth place was under control,” he regretted.
The only positive point for him is the absence of a penalty. He feared a double long lap for crashing under a yellow flag, which would have penalized him for the next Grand Prix. But the flag was back to green at the time of his crash. He will therefore be able to start again in Brno without a handicap.
**Next stop: Brno**
The championship continues next week with the Czech Grand Prix. Johann Zarco maintains some confidence. He appreciates the Brno track, especially since its new surface, and hopes to find better sensations there. “It’s a beautiful circuit, now we’ll see how well I can lead the Honda on this track,” he concluded.
Fabio Quartararo, on his side, is engaged in a race against time and against technical stagnation. He is still awaiting a concrete response from Yamaha, and progress is slow in coming. The exasperation grows, even though the rider remains combative. He continues to assert that he will do everything to bounce back, but now he awaits strong signs from his team.
In Germany, the two Frenchmen reminded us that they could still aim for the top of the leaderboard. But their bikes struggle to keep up.
