An excellent start and a hard-fought race saw Johann Zarco fight back from 19th on the grid to eighth position at the chequered flag in today's Dutch Moto2 race.
In just a few laps the 21-year-old Frenchman had clawed his way up to 10th place and was fighting hard with more experienced Moto2 riders such as ex-World Champion Toni Elias. Despite a fierce battle with Elias, Randy Krummenacher and Mika Kallio, Johann was able to lead his group across the line to take a hard-earned eighth place finish.
Meanwhile his young team-mate Eric Granado had an equally exciting race, building up experience in only his second Moto2 World Championship event. The 16-year-old Brazilian finished in 24th place, but showed good consistency in the last half of the race.
Today's results put Team JiR's Johann Zarco in 11th place in the Moto2 World Championship standings. The race winner was Spaniard Marc Marquez, who now leads the championship by 23 points. He hunted down early leader Andrea Iannone to take the lead on the final lap. Iannone is now second in the title chase.
Gianluca Montiron – JiR Moto2 Team Principal
"Today at end of the weekend we took some good points with Johann. It was good to see that he made his best lap only two laps before the end of the race. The result gives us something positive, as after Johann's practice crashes compromised his weekend, he did well to finish at the front of his group in the race. With Eric we have also seen some very positive things. He was more consistent in both practice and the race and was putting in some very similar lap times towards the end of the race itself. This is good. We now need to work out how to make him faster and improve still further his rhythm in the race."
Johann Zarco – 8th
"It was quite a good fight back from me, I think. Overall, it was good to start 19th and finish eighth. From the beginning I had a normal start and then I could be aggressive but not too much, just so I didn't crash. Soon, I was in the top 11 or 10 riders and from there I tried to come back on the leading group but it was so difficult and I was fighting with Krummenacher and Elias for the lead position in our group. Towards the end we came back on Mika Kallio and I could overtake him and another rider on the last lap and so was able to take eighth place. Now we must look forward to Sachsenring where I must get a better qualifying position."
Eric Granado
– 24th
"That was another enjoyable but very long race for me! I think I made a good start in the race and every lap I did, I was doing similar times. I didn't beat my best time from yesterday – I was about three-tenths off it – but the important thing was that when you look at my times in the race they were consistent, even towards the end of the race. Also, compared to Silverstone at the end of the race I'm nearer to the leaders on total race time, which is another good sign. I know I have to increase my pace and I will do this by making little steps forward. Now I aim to do some more physical training before Sachsenring. I have to thank my team so much for the last two races. I need to improve and gain experience, but the team has so much experience, it has helped me so much."
JiR Moto2 Press Release
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