The 2026 MotoGP World Championship has already begun, and Johann Zarco has clearly stated his favorite for the title. The French rider, who races for LCR Honda, knows the paddock inside and out and hasn't hesitated to name Marc Marquez as the man to beat this season. According to the veteran Frenchman, the rider from Cervera has an advantage over the other contenders, but he has one essential condition for this to happen.
In a MotoGP paddock where everyone is cautiously advancing their pawns, Johann zarco He didn't hesitate for a second to speak his mind. For the French driver of the team Honda LCRThe hierarchy for the 2026 season is clear: the overwhelming favorite is called Marc Marquez.
Et zarco He did not limit himself to a cautious analysis. His verdict is brutally clear:
« I see Marc as having a considerable advantage over the others. For me, Marc will be world champion, barring any unforeseen problems, such as a shoulder injury. »
In other words: if the body of Marquez Look, the rest of the field might be racing for second place.
For zarcoThe question isn't about talent or the motorcycle. In that respect, the rider from Cervera remains an absolute benchmark. The only uncertainty concerns his physical fragility, a legacy of the injuries that have marked his career in recent years.
If this shoulder were to become a problem again, the battle for the title could then take a different turn. zarco immediately imagine a new scenario:
« In this case… It would be a duel between Alex and Bez.And Pecco will be there too, that's for sure. But if we're talking about surprises, I'd mention the other two. Pecco isn't a surprise. Alex Marquez, however, is. »
In this scenario, the championship could shift towards a younger generation led by Alex Marquez et Marco Bezzecchi, with the inevitable Francis Bagnaia always lying in wait. But as long as Marquez He remains standing… the sporting logic clearly argues in his favor.
At Honda, Johann Zarco is still navigating uncharted waters.
Si zarco shows himself to be decisive on the title fight, his own situation at Honda is much more nuanced.
The Frenchman admits that the start of the season has not been easy for him. His official teammates, in particular Luca Marini et Joan mirseem to have found a balance that he is still searching for.
« Honestly, at first, I couldn't be as optimistic as the factory riders, Marini and Mir.. »
The problem? A basic setting that's difficult to use. They've found a better setting. They have a balance that suits them better, and that I haven't yet managed to find."A frustrating observation, but not a hopeless one."
Despite these difficulties, zarco see on MOW a major development: the Honda 2026 finally has a real top speed, a flaw that had weighed down the RC213V for several seasons.
« The bike is high-performing. And when it comes to setting a good lap time, we're among the best. So even if it might seem difficult, at least we have a fast motorcycleWe didn't even have that before. »
In other words: the potential is there. Now it just needs to be turned into results.
zarco also wanted to put an end to a persistent rumor in the paddock: the idea that the factory bikes would be technically superior to those of the satellite team.
According to him, that's simply not the case. I believe I have a completely factory-built motorcycle. Honda wants to work with four factory bikes »
Drawing on his experience with almost all the manufacturers on the platform, zarco He delivers a fascinating analysis of the character of MotoGP machines. For him, the paddock is divided into two mechanical worlds.
Japanese motorcycles like Honda ou Yamaha They would be more intuitive: like road bikes, simple and natural to ride. Conversely, the European machines – Ducati or KTM – would be much more radical: “more aggressive,” difficult to grasp but incredibly exhilarating once mastered. This difference in philosophy also explains the recent evolution of the championship.
In an already explosive 2026 MotoGP championship, John Zarco delivers a straightforward prediction.
If the physical condition holds up, Marc Marquez He remains the man to beat.
But behind him, the new generation – Marquez junior, Bezzecchiand the others – are just waiting for a weakness to overturn the established order.
And in a paddock where technology evolves as fast as rivalries… the season promises to be anything but calm.
