Marco Bezzecchi
Another domino has fallen in the MotoGP rider market after the announcement that Johann Zarco will remain an LCR rider for 2026.
The Frenchman has been Honda’s most valuable asset this season, sparking speculation that he could receive a promotion for the future.
But LCR have received a boost instead, after the announcement that Zarco will be with them for the next two seasons.
With the majority of the MotoGP grid out of contract before the 2027 regulations, it puts the 35-year-old out of sync with his rivals, but with a positive spin. His future is secure.
Honda’s final decision was ‘kept secret’ for a while, waiting until September to announce the riders for half of the bikes they will field in the future.
Peter Bom reckons Honda would be ’20 years behind’ without their saviour Zarco, who has claimed one victory for them this season already.
READ MORE: Johann Zarco fears one Ducati figure even more than Marc Marquez as Honda try to catch them
MotoGP fans left bewildered by Honda’s decision not to promote Johann Zarco to HRC for 2026
Zarco has the same approach as Marc Marquez, and his self-critical nature may be down to the older generation they are from.
It’s impossible to deny that it has yielded results, with one win and a podium pushing him into the top 10 of the standings.
One term of his deal is that he will receive the same parts as the factory riders, putting him on level ground with them in the future, but that isn’t enough for some fans, who wanted to see him promoted.
Speaking on X (formerly known as Twitter), one individual said, “Good news, but why didn’t the Honda factory offer him a seat?”
“He should join the factory Honda instead,” wrote another fan, while someone else was just as passionate about his position, stating, “He deserves the factory seat!”
The disbelief is widespread, with the next person contesting, “Are you serious?”, while another fanatic added, “Don’t understand why Zarco is not [a] Honda HRC racing rider?”
And finally, one last response read, “Give him the right material,” as those who support him want to see him return to the podium more frequently in the future. They’re demanding more from his manufacturer.
Why did Johann Zarco deserve a MotoGP contract extension with Honda?
Zarco was ‘super anxious’ at the French Grand Prix before winning his second-ever race in treacherous home conditions.
It was the performance that had been coming for a while, ever since he began the season by consistently reeling off top-10 positions.
He was the man to prevent Ducati from breaking their own 27-year streak by winning 22 races in a row as a manufacturer, doing so on a bike which had struggled to reach the top 10 in 2024.
His experience will be vital to developing the Honda bike in the future, and he can continue to be a real asset for them into the new regulations, now that he has earned an extension.
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