MotoGP is one of the most demanding sports in the world and it takes some outer-worldly training to be at the top. If you had any reason to doubt how crazy and demanding MotoGP gets, the San Marino Grand Prix was every bit of a spectacle that fans will remember ages from now. While Honda's Marquez took a spectacular win, it was Tech3 Yamaha's Johann Zarco who finished to the cheering of spectators and fans world over. In a moment, the 27-year-old rider personified his passion for the sport, as he literally pushed his M1 across the finish line at the Misano circuit to claim the final point.
undefinedWhat a heroic effort from Zarco as he pushes his bike over the line!
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) September 10, 2017
He still finished in the points pic.twitter.com/05mFvPO0F6
Zarco was in seventh place on the final lap when he started facing fuel problems and eventually ran out of fuel. However, instead of settling for a DNF, the Tech3 rider leapt off the bike after the final corner and literally pushed his M1 to the finish line dropping from seventh to fifteenth place. He managed to a score a single yet crucial point for the team.
If nothing else, it was a heroic display of absolute determination and will that Zarco put up on display in those final minutes before the chequered flag. Speaking on what went wrong, Johann Zarco told the media after the race, "I got the fuel problem before Turn 11, I tried to stay in sixth gear and really use the minimum of the bike. This was working until Turn 14, but the last two lefts were even worse."
(Zarco's determination and will made for a spectacular finish amidst a cheering crowd)
"From the last corner I had to go down next to the bike and run, and it was long. I knew that there are two lines, the start line and the finish line. The finish line was really far," he added.
The crowd cheered as Zarco didn't give up despite being passed by other riders including Suzuki's Alex Rins, Tech3 Yamaha's Jonas Folger as well as LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow, who crashed early on in the race while in fifth place and lost significant time, only to catch up on the final lap.
"It's good to have the public for that. We must think that a MotoGP race is a show, so at least I [put] some show and they won't forget it," he said further. "It's the kind of thing that should not happen, so we're disappointed. In the end I got one point, better than nothing. There are worse things in life than finishing without fuel."
(Johann Zarco is currently 6th on the championship points table)
Post the San Marino GP, Marc Marquez and Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso are tied up for points in the top spot, while Yamaha's Maverick Vinales sits third in the championship standings. Johann Zarco is sixth on the points table, having scored points in every race since his debut race in Qatar this year.
