Johann Zarco believes his “creditability” warrants a potential move to the factory Honda MotoGP team in 2026.
The Frenchman joined LCR Honda in 2024 seeking a new challenge after a multi-year stint with Pramac Ducati.
He finished his first championship as the lead Honda representative but finished a distant 17th in the championship classification.
The 34-year-old is now the oldest rider in the premier class, but he thinks his results on the Honda should lead to an opportunity to work with the factory outfit.
“The results are increasing my credibility in the eyes of the manufacturer,” he stated to GPOne.
“My goal is to strengthen the bond so as to stay and create an opportunity for me to be promoted to the factory team.”
At the end of the 2025 season, current HRC rider Luca Marini’s contract will expire, possibly opening the door for the Frenchman.
Zarco’s credentials extend further as he won the famous Suzuka 8 Hours on his debut, winning alongside Takumi Takahashi and Teppei Naggoe.
“The victory in the 8 Hours of Suzuka highlighted my adaptive skills and this increased the condition toward me by the manufacturer. Last summer was also good for that,” Zarco admitted.
“I could have continued and fought for the title, but instead I preferred to accept the challenge of taking Honda back to the top.”
Honda has made huge strides after posting its worst season in the premier class last year where the Japanese marque failed to accumulate a single podium.
This season after three rounds, Zarco sits seventh in the standings with 25 points, followed by Marini in ninth with 20 points, and Joan Mir in 15th with 10 points.
Sylvain Guintoli states Zarco factory move ‘becomes political’
TNT Sports Sylvain Guintoli pundit stated that a potential factory Honda move for Zarco would be seen as a “political” move.
The former WorldSBK champion implied that a potential move wouldn’t make sense considering Zarco receives the same support from the factory.
“He deserves it. But it becomes political,” Guintoli revealed.
“In LCR he gets the same treatment. He gets the same bike, and he’s got a Honda contract.
“So, for him, it’s more a question of prestige. It won’t change much in terms of the technical side.
“Honda might want to reserve that status for somebody else, to attract an [Pedro] Acosta or a Toprak [Razgatlioglu].
“Zarco is happy and performing at LCR. If you’re Lucio Cechinello and you’ve got your sponsors, and Zarco is on the bike, you don’t want to let him go.”
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