Zarco, Marquez enthused for COTA MotoGP challenge

French rookie Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) has surprised the MotoGP aces in the opening rounds, leading in Qatar before a crash and following up with a hard-fought fifth place in Argentina, dueling it out with riders such as three-time world champion Dani Pedrosa. Zarco is therefore particularly looking forward to the next round at Austin's Circuit of The Americas, a track where he's been successful in the past in Moto2.

"The layout is demanding because there are 20 corners and it's certainly physical," Zarco said of COTA, which will host MotoGP April 23. "However, I have a good record in Texas and I have finished on the podium twice in the past two years in Moto2. At this venue, it's vital to understand the direction that we need to head towards as there are so many corners. If you make one small mistake, it takes almost half a lap to recover, so therefore, it's more important to work on the rider and to find the perfect line on the asphalt, rather than focusing too much on finding the ideal setup."

Another rider particularly looking forward to COTA is Marc Marquez (pictured). The reigning MotoGP champ is off to a difficult start to his title defense, with a fourth place in Qatar followed by a crash out of the lead in Argentina. Therefore, he's eager to turn things around on a track at which he's never been defeated.

"I have great memories of Austin, and for me it’s one of the best venues on the race calendar," said Marquez. "I like the layout of the track, as it has many different types of sections and corners and lots of elevation changes. I also love the American style, with all the fans enjoying the sport and the fun at the track, so let’s get back in action and see how it goes there.”