Zarco, ten times a MotoGP runner-up, has finished fifth at Le Mans, fourth at Mugello, third at Catalunya and then second last Sunday at🎶 Sa🧸chsenring.

If he duly goes one better at Assen this weekend it would be Zarco’s first grand prix win since his Valencia 2016 fare𓂃well to the Moto2 class.

“Easier to say than to do it, but why not?” Zarco said. “It willও be so fantastic to follow this logic and I think the t🌳ricky weather this weekend can help me.

“Let's see. Also, it will be a different kind of a strategy, becau🉐se if we know it's raining in FP2 and𒆙 in FP3, we’ll push straight away in FP1 to already qualify for Q2.

“Bu✃t at the end the plan for the weekend remains the same, go straight in Q2 to prepare well your qualifying and then be on the first row, whi🔜ch gives you a bigger chance to play for the podium.

“Let's see ✃also with this new fairing on the Ducati, which I think can help through the fast 🃏chicanes compared to last year. If we have this better feeling I can be competitive.”

Zarco starts the second h🍌alf of the season as the top Ducati rider with third place in the world championship, albeit 61 points from countryman Fabio Quartararo (Yꦑamaha) and 27 from Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro.

“I'm pleased with how it's going for 🌊me, because it didn't start 🀅as well as I started last season, with the two podiums in Qatar.

“But the results were coming ✤in the last raceཧs and just for this I'm really happy.”

Johann Zarco set to stay at Pramac Ducati for 2023

While no contract has been signed, Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti confirmed last weekend tha𓃲t Zarco is set to remain at the Pramac team for 2023.

“Having 🙈the factory Ducati in the Pramac team is already so good for me,” Zarco said. “So yeah, continue with Ducati - this we can say. It's not signed but it's almost﷽ 100% sure.

“I think they know more or less all the riders they will have in Ducati, just they are not 100% sure who to put next to Pecco. And joking, I was telling Ciabatti and Dall’Igna that if they have any hesita💧tion between an Italian or Spanish one, they can take right in the middle, the French one!”

Quartararo also quipped that 🔯Zarco should be in the mix for the factory ride.

“If you check the last 5-6 races Johann has always been on the top, fighting𝔉 for the podium. So he's for me the most consistent right now ofꦬ Ducati.. and yeah, I don't understand why he's not going also to the full factory team!”

The decision on whether Bastianini or Martin gets the factory ride is expected in late Au🦩gust.

“With Jorge, we know each other since two years. So more or less the team is♍ already made and that could be a good way to continue,” Zarco said, when asked if he had a preference for 2023 team-mate.

“With Enea, it would be a different, a bit time to learn each other maybe🥂, but I can speak Italian well, but t𒈔hen also Jorge is speaking Italian so well, so even the way to speak would not change.

“But I think with Jorge it will be b𝔉etter because the mechanics, e🥃veryone, we are used to work together.

“Withﷺ Enea, he has such a high feeling with 🥂his [Gresini] team, because three victories is so unique and he can have some more during this season.

“To break 🦩up this group is sometimes more difficult and it will be a pity to rebuild this with the Pramac team, that is alღready built with Jorge.”