Honda have at last decided where Johann Zarco will be racing in 2026 after he pushed for factory move

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Johann Zarco was one of the surprise performers during the first half of the MotoGP season, but since the summer break, he has dropped off a little.

Once as high as seventh in the standings, the LCR rider is now ninth with a few of his rivals in better form breathing down his neck.

Zarco remains one of just two non-Ducati Grand Prix winners in 2025, and he did so at the place that was most meaningful to him – home.

He deserves a top 10 finish in the MotoGP championship to show for his efforts, but he needs to start scoring some solid points again if he wants to avoid a further slide.

Zarco fears one Ducati figure more than Marc Marquez as his manufacturer attempts to catch them. They want to be fighting for titles again soon, and his experience could be essential to that.

Peter Bom reckons Honda would be ’20 years behind’ without Zarco on their bike. Having that sort of effect on a team means it’s surprising that he hasn’t had his contract renewed yet.

READ MORE: Honda have formed a new rider line-up ‘plan’ for the 2026 season that will delight Valentino Rossi

Honda have decided to give Johann Zarco a two-year MotoGP deal for 2026

While Zarco may be MotoGP’s most humble rider, he has contributed a lot to help turn Honda’s operation around in a short space of time.

Last year, he finished 17th in the championship and managed no result better than eighth. This year, he beat that at the first race in Thailand and has since secured four top-six finishes.

Compared to what rookie teammate Somkiat Chantra has delivered, he really has been a saviour. Zarco even made one sacrifice for Honda, and was ready to put his dreams of a factory ride aside for them to sign Jorge Martin a few months ago.

Now, the landscape has changed, and Luca Marini has performed well in the factory seat. The Race now reports that Zarco will receive a two-year deal from Honda, starting with LCR for 2026.

Additionally, Marini will be renewed at the factory team, but only on a one-year contract. Zarco will be completely out of sync with the majority of the grid, whose contracts all expire at the end of next year.

READ MORE: Johann Zarco’s manager reveals what he told Honda mechanics in ‘super anxious’ French Grand Prix moment

Johann Zarco recently said ‘I want’ to be Honda’s number one MotoGP rider

Zarco’s ambition to join the factory team has been made clear all year long, but it looks like it will not be achieved any time soon.

As recently as the Hungarian Grand Prix, he was still talking about wanting to move up to the factory team, despite it looking like he will remain with LCR.

“I want to be Honda’s number one rider,” he said, according to Canal Plus Sport on Instagram. “It would be logical to go to HRC. But we feel that other things are being considered. With Martin staying at Aprilia, I feel that Honda should be able to make a decision.

“Because I want to join HRC, and most of all, become the number one rider of this amazing brand. The fact that I speak in such a humble way it may look like a lack of ambition, but it is simple humility.