Marco Bezzecchi
Honda have enjoyed a MotoGP resurgence in 2025 after securing consecutive top-10 finishes to start the season.
Johann Zarco has scored two top-eight finishes in two races, beating any result he achieved during the 2024 campaign with the LCR Team.
At the age of 34, the Frenchman may be proving that age is just a number in the modern day. He’s leading a manufacturer who has endured a dismal few years back to where they belong.
Nobody expected him to be sitting fifth in MotoGP’s riders’ championship after just two races. With the benefit of the concession system and unrestricted engine development, he could be contending for podiums soon.
Zarco got ‘very angry’ at his Honda bike in Argentina, despite finishing sixth in the Grand Prix. He felt he could have extracted more from his performance.
Being Honda’s lead rider on a satellite bike is no mean feat. It’s why Zarco scored an 8/10 in our Argentina Grand Prix ratings.
READ MORE: Johann Zarco has told Honda exactly how to find four-tenths ‘for free’ at MotoGP Sepang Test
Johann Zarco may regret Honda snub after MotoGP career reflection
After joining MotoGP in 2017 with Tech3, who were using a Yamaha bike at the time, Zarco secured sixth-place finishes in the standings in each of his first two campaigns.
A move to KTM’s factory team for 2019 was disastrous and he didn’t complete a full season before leaving their setup.
Looking back on his move with GP Racing’s magazine (via Motosan), he shared some regrets over some key decisions at the start of his premier-class career.
“I could also mention the move to MotoGP. Maybe I should have been more mature to deal with it better. Maybe I could have joined the Repsol Honda team,” he said.
“I could also have managed the move to KTM better, although I tried to do it with Jean-Michel Bayle. At that time, it was difficult for me to develop my skills. There are definitely many things I would do differently if I had to do it again.”
READ MORE: Four-win team boss reveals LCR Honda ‘option’ for 2027 MotoGP engine collaboration
Why Honda could challenge for the MotoGP title in 2026
Luca Marini thinks the ‘impossible’ can happen for Honda after making dramatic improvements to their bike over the winter.
It will be relieving for the team that they can finally compete with their rivals again. The advantage they hold in development will be key.
If they can replicate the sort of gains they found over the winter next year, then they could be on Ducati’s tails if they rest on their laurels.
The introduction of new regulations in 2027 means that any advantage won’t last, but it’s important to use it while it’s in their favour.
Who knows, maybe Zarco is able to compete for the title next year and set off into the sunset at the top of his game?
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