Not even a best qualifying result of the season could please Johann Zarco in front oꦜf an expectant home crowd, as the Frenchman admitted to feeling “on fire inside” as he failed to qualifying for MotoGP Q2 at Le Mans.

Zarco was one of a many riders that was caught out by the window to fit slick tyres during Q1 and take advantage of a drying track before the rai꧟n returned and intensified.

As a result he was 14^th and unable to take on the class’ top twelve. Going off his feel in the weജt, the 28-year old even went as far as claiming a r🅺epeat of his famous pole position here a year ago was possible.

“Best position and best QP [of ไthe season] from the beginning,” began Zarco. “Disappointed and angry after the Q1 because we missed the strategy, not about the slicks because what Valentino did was very clever, but even with the r🤪ain tyres.

“I leꦇft the box with the slick and it was too late to do something. It was a shame. It was conditions where I felt good after a long time struggling and I think we could have played for Pole Position today.

📖“To miss the Q2 I was on-fire inside. But, positive for tomorrow, I think in mixed conditions we have the chance to 📖do a good race.

“It is also the first time since I have been on the KTM that I can feel som🐎e strong points on the bike and this gives me a smile and a good motivation to feel that what we do is working. 14th for tomorrow and hopefully the best for the race.

“On Friday I was saying it didn't matter for me because the work is the same. Today I would prefer to have 🌠wet conditions b﷽ecause the KTM had some strong points that I would like for the race tomorrow in the case that it is wet.

🎉“In the case of dry then 14th ♒is still what I have done better than before so I can think about the top ten.”

Asked to clarify whether he truly felt a pole position was possible, Zarco sꦰaid, “Yeah, I said that because there were tricky conditions and the experience from Moto2 and also MotoGP when there is not full rain but dry enough for slick I can go pretty fa💎st.

“In the Q1 on the first tyre♓ I did not do everythinജg perfect but I was quite competitive. With another tyre it would have been possible to make Q2 and with the lap-times they were doing I would be been competitive for pole position.

“Don't forget the target is to be at the top and when we have a day when soꦇmething is possible then you must trust and remember this target.

“For sure if I could start from something like sixth is very goo🐲d but we want to be at the top an൩d today after five months of problems and hard feelings it was possible to turn the situation upside down. It would have been fantastic, but, not yet so we’ll keep focussed.”

What conditions would he then favour for Sunday’s race? “It’s the best chance to overtake riders, have a constant race and be on th♏e top. I cross fingers for these conditions and to have a good race tomorrow.

“But it looks like the mixꦑed conditions I’ll be able to 𒀰find back my strong points from the years before. Starting from 14th you have to overtake a lot!

“Normal💞ly I am a soft rider who does not use much of the tyre and that's🌄 why in mixed condition I was always having mixed feeling. Now to feel this on the KTM really brings me a smile that we are working and the feeling is coming.”