It was the excitement of the MotoGP weekend in Jerez and another chapter in the eternal conflict between the MotoGP riders and the stewards, especially chief steward Freddie Spencer. LCR pilot Johann Zarco became loud after a collision with Aleix Espargaro and was then thrown out of the steward’s office. Before his home race in Le Mans, he reported on a discussion with Spencer & Co. and explained his feelings.
Johann Zarco apologizes: There was no need to raise his voice
“It’s been two weeks, so we were able to talk a little more calmly,” Zarco said on Thursday. The Frenchman admitted that he himself had contributed to the scandal: “What wasn’t professional on my part was that I raised my voice at the meeting. That wasn’t necessary. But after the crash, everything that happened and the manner in which it happened Way of the conversation, I just had to say something.”
The Honda driver said at the time that the stewards looked at him as if they expected him to punish Espargaro. But that wasn’t the case. Zarco was angry that it was the responsibility of the stewards themselves to assess the accident: “I was able to express my feelings about it and that was a good thing. But in this last incident, the atmosphere of the meeting was not helpful. They wanted to know what I was about the accident. But what could I say? I couldn’t say much because I was the one who was shot down and then I had to justify myself.
Basic conflict with MotoGP stewards remains despite discussion: we disagree many times!
The debate followed two weeks later. Nevertheless, it seems clear that not everything is suddenly gone. Zarco at least accommodated the stewards somewhat: “They tried to take a closer look at it. There were clear intentions and comments from the drivers. Of course that makes it a bit complicated.” To be fair, it should also be mentioned that the stewards had a lot to do on an eventful weekend.
However, the apology for his behavior does not change the fact that the basic conflict of the MotoGP riders and their dissatisfaction with the stewards’ decisions remains: “That [sein Ausraster, Anm. d. Red.] wasn’t professional of me, but I have Freddie [Spencer] and made it clear to the other stewards that I disagreed with them. We often disagree on many things.” The next chapter in MotoGP’s eternal stewards saga seems to be only a matter of time, debate or not.