Kevin Schwantz hails 21-podium MotoGP rider ‘nobody really took notice of’

Add as preferred source on Google

MotoGP legend Kevin Schwantz feels one rider who flew under the radar last season is now starting to get a greater spotlight for producing a host of standout performances.

A lot of the focus throughout the 2024 season was on the title fight that went right down to the wire between Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. But a lot of other stars still shone on the world stage even if their results might not have delivered their teams the same rewards.

One low-profile rider that applies to is even now starting to turn more heads and has greatly impressed Schwantz during the opening rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season. Their work last time out at the Argentina Grand Prix in particular took the 1993 500cc champion’s attention.

Kevin Schwantz hails LCR rider Johann Zarco for leading Honda when ‘nobody took notice’

LCR Honda ace Johann Zarco really impressed Schwantz last year having often been the top rider on an RC213V during his first full season riding the Japanese brand’s bike. Zarco raced three rounds for LCR at the end of 2019 before spending four seasons with Ducati machines.

The RC213V was largely an uncompetitive bike in 2024, with Honda rooted to the bottom of MotoGP’s constructors’ championship on 75 points. The factory Honda squad even finished last in the teams’ standings on 35 points behind LCR with 86, of which Zarco also scored 55.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Johann Zarco from career stats to net worth

Schwantz, though, feels ‘nobody’ really took notice of Zarco last season given his best result was P8 in the Thailand Grand Prix. It was also one of two top-10 finishes he took all year. Yet Zarco achieved seventh in Thailand to start 2025 and P6 in Argentina to impress Schwantz.

Schwantz told MotoGP: “Great qualifying, great race result and Zarco was kind of the lead Honda all of last year, too. Even though it wasn’t as far up the field as he’s been so far this year and maybe nobody really took notice of that.

“But that’s what I always do is look at the result, who was the first Honda and I think 90% of the time it was Johann in the [Lucio] Cecchinello team.”

Johann Zarco is racing for his MotoGP future with a factory Honda promotion possible

It has certainly been a strong start to the 2025 MotoGP season for Zarco, who sits fifth in the riders’ standings ahead of this week’s Grand Prix of the Americas. The LCR pilot impressed Schwantz in Argentina especially with third on the grid which he turned into P4 in the Sprint.

READ MORE: Everything to know about LCR from the MotoGP team’s riders to Honda ties

Zarco was only 0.288 seconds from taking his ninth MotoGP pole position at Termas, as well, when the next-best Honda was factory rider Joan Mir in P10 a further 0.391s back. His 22nd premier class podium was also in sight before Zarco faded after fighting Ducati ace Bagnaia.

The Frenchman is currently riding for his future, however, as Zarco joined LCR on a two-year factory Honda contract last term. A factory spot might open up with Luca Marini also due to be a free agent at the end of 2025. But nothing is guaranteed despite leading Honda’s hope.