It’s time to get to know a two-time World Champion and one of two French MotoGP™ stars, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), a little better. Here’s 10 things you might not have previously known about Zarco:
1. Zarco is the youngest of three siblings, with the French rider having one sister and one brother. The latter was the Pramac star’s assistant until very recently, but has since returned to being a chiropractor.
2. Not since 2016, when he delivered back-to-back Moto2™ World Championship, have we seen one, but the Frenchman is well capable of pulling off a show stopping backflip. Normally reserved for his post-race celebrations, we hope we get to see one again soon as he seeks a maiden MotoGP™ victory.
3. Born in Cannes, a city famous for its film festival, Zarco made the bold decision to leave his home at a young age to go live with Laurent Fellon, then his coach, to devote his life to motorcycle racing. After a lengthy working relationship, the two parted ways in 2019.
4. The Red Bull Rookies Cup has seen plenty of big names emerge from within its ranks. The inaugural edition was held in 2007, and it was Zarco who claimed the honour of being its first Champion. His debut on the World Championship stage came in 2009 thanks to the support of Gabor Talmacsi, the former 125cc World Champion. In tribute to Talmacsi, Zarco once donned a Hungarian helmet during his days in the intermediate class.
5. Asides from MotoGP™, Zarco enjoys golf, running and cycling during his down time as ways to pass the time.
6. Not just a phenomenal athlete, the Frenchman has shown his artistic side on more than one occasion over the years. Something of a pianist, Zarco can also spin a tune on the guitar and provide some vocals to go along with it. He even writes songs about some of his on track rivals, as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) found out in Brno 2020.
7. In terms of sporting idols, French World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane is his favourite.
8. At the 2021 Aragon GP, Zarco took the unusual route of travelling to MotorLand by bike, riding a beautiful 1981 Ducati 900 SS Darmah on a 1000km journey!
9. He’s not only adept on two wheels as he showed recently. Appearing on the French version of Top Gear, Zarco put in a hell of a lap on four wheels to beat Le Tone by a few hundredths of a second.
10. In the premier class there are only two riders that are left-handed. Zarco is one of them, and the other is fellow Ducati rider Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™).