Neil Hodgson would demote two-podium MotoGP rider to satellite team, ‘you’d have to say…’

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Five MotoGP riders are out of contract at the end of the 2025 season. That puts them out-of-step with most of the field, whose futures are secure until the culmination of the current rule cycle.

Perhaps the biggest name on the list is Jack Miller, whose place on this year’s grid had been in doubt. Miller lost his seat at the KTM factory squad but secured the final spot at Pramac.

The Australian has made a promising start at the Yamaha satellite team, with the highlight his P4 in Thailand qualifying. Thus, the noise over the future of the 23-time podium-finisher has died down.

Likewise, Franco Morbidelli is recovering from his desperately disappointing, injury-affected 2024 campaign. Morbidelli, who may be benefitting from the continuity of the GP24 at VR46, ended a podium drought stretching back to 2021 at the last race in Argentina.

And then there’s the Honda trio. Rookie Somkiat Chantra has only signed with LCR for an initial 12 months, but the bigger question surrounds Johann Zarco and Luca Marini.

Zarco was the lead Honda rider in 2024 and has maintained that status this year. That would appear to put Marini, half-brother of Valentino Rossi at risk.

Neil Hodgson calls for Johann Zarco Honda promotion at the expense of Luca Marini

Speaking during TNT Sports’ coverage of FP1 at the Grand Prix of the Americas, Sylvain Guintoli assessed Zarco’s chances of a promotion. In reality, he’d only be moving for the ‘prestige’, because he already enjoys full factory support at LCR.

His concern is that the Japanese manufacturer might want to ‘reserve’ the spot alongside Joan Mir for a bigger name, like the in-demand Pedro Acosta. It was reported this week that Honda are in talks with Toprak Razgatlioglu, the two-time World Superbike champion.

Neil Hodgson says a Zarco-Marini swap is justified by the pair’s results. But even if Marini sees off the Frenchman, he may not be safe.

“For him, it’s more a question of prestige,” Guintoli said of Zarco. “You’re part of the factory team then. It won’t change much in regards to the technical side.

“But then Honda might want to reserve that status to attract somebody else, like an Acosta or a Toprak, to attract another rider. Unless he really puts it as a veto, as in he continues performing like he is and he says ‘I need a ride, and want that ride, and that’s it’.”

Hodgson then added: “You’d have to say, you probably would swap them. You would.”

How Luca Marini explains the pace deficit to Johann Zarco

Heading into the Americas GP, Zarco has scored 25 points, while Marini and Mir have contributed 10 apiece. Just like last year, he’s outscored the pair of them combined (55 vs 35).

Marini had a ‘unique’ explanation for Zarco’s advantage in a recent interview, putting it down to riding styles. The idiosyncracies of the Honda apparently suit the veteran, while the factory pair can’t ride instinctively.

Marini certainly can’t be criticised for crashing excessively. In fact, he only recorded four accidents during Grand Prix weekends last year.

Critics might say that Marini isn’t ‘trying hard enough’ and taking enough risks. In response, the 27-year-old says his height allows him to better control weight distribution and keep the bike stable.