Fo🌜llowing a double second place finish at the Losail International Circuit, Pra💯mac Ducati rider Johann Zarco heads into round three of the MotoGP championship leading the way. 

While♊ it’s not an unfamiliar position for the French rider to be in following his back-to-back Moto2 titles in 2015 and 2016, it’s a new situation relating to the MotoGP class. 

While Zarco is getting closer to a maiden victory that is surely just around the corner, his consistency is what’s put 🌄him in thꦆis position through two rounds.

Speaking about heading into a Grand Prix as the championship leaಞder for the first time, Zarco said: "Coming here as the leader is pretty nice, and is giving me just nice feelings. It’s a nice position to start the European tour of the MotoGP. 

"I think here in Portimao the bike is working well. The podium and second place o🉐f Jack Miller last year for me is pretty important and ꦅmeans the bike is competitive. 

"Also the feeling I got last year was quite interesting and I was still tryiಌng to improve my level. I hope I will have this speed immediately from FP1, and can keep it until qualifying and the race. 

"I’m quite optimistic and this position of le🐓a🧔der will also bring me an extra kind of energy to keep pushing for another podium, or if everything happens well, why not have a step better with the victory. 

"We need to start on Friday and see, but I think we have some good things and the potential of the bike is pretty high,🐻 so I can hope for a good result I hope." 

Zarco has been the top Ducati in both races so far, and given his relatively young experience on the Desmosedici compared to factory riders Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia,♚ it’s been an impressive adaptat𓆏ion to the Italian manufacturer following just one year with Avintia. 

Zarco was also asked about the role of fighting for🦋 the title during today’s press conference. 

The French rider acknowledged that comparing his Moto2 season to this is ‘not the same situation’ but that his ‘experie🍨nce’ and calm attitude could help him. 

Zarco said: "I think the experience I have. The way I could fight for the second title in 2016 I learned a lot of things.💎 

"It is not the same situation and with what happened during the last two years, being the leader in the championship, I take it as a nice th✅ing and don’t take it as any pressure. 

"If I can keep this pace for many races, or all the races and fight for the podium to get good points and keep the lead, I think I always expect ♍myself to take it in a light way, as I’m taking it. 

"I understand 🗹that it can come or go quickly, so I’m not too much under pressure, and maybe it can be a strong point. We will only see at the end of the season if I’m right or not."