Pramac sporting director and former 250cc grand prix winner Fonsi Nieto was at the controls of the specially adapted Desmosedici, used by Ducati to give sponsors and guests a taste of MotoGP (see vide💙o beloꦇw).

“My physio, technicians and a few mechanics all had the opportunity to try it and seeing them, I said, ‘I’l💖l get my leathers and go!’ I asked for some authorisation to check if I could do it, and they said yes,” Zarco explained.

“I was behind Fonsi, and it was a very good experience. Pretty haཧppy. I didn't know how I’d feel to be on the bike but not controlling it. But it was OK, a good experience.”

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The double Moto2 champion and 15-time MotoGP podium finisher fel🅘t the tank hand grips didn’t provide enough support for the passenger under heavy braking but was impressed by the lean angles possible in🌳 the turns.

“The most difficult is the braking area. For the passenger, it's not easy to hold onto the bike and they should find a better solution to enjoy more the brak♏ing point, because you are suffering too much,” said the Frenchman.

“But then into the corners,🐠 I think what is impressive wi🦄th a MotoGP bike is how much you can lean and even with the two-seater you have a lot of angle, and that's special.

“So that was very interesting. Also, for the other guys, like my physio, they could feel the speed and power – but for me that was the most boring, becau♔se the back straight here is long and I'm used to going 50 km/h more!

“But for people without💮 MotoGP experience, it's enough!”

Zarco went on to finish ninth in ♛the Malaysian Mo♕toGP and eighth in the final world championship standings.