Backtracking on tyre gamble led to Zarco’s “hero or zero” Silverstone MotoGP crash

The Frenchman started on pole at Silverstone for Sunday’s 20-lap race and was among the strongest on race pace throughout practice.

He came to the grid with a soft front tyre fitted to his satellite Ducati, but made a late switch to the medium – which was the tyre Ducati counterpart Francesco Bagnaia won on – as he was worried how the hotter temperatures would affect the softer…