Let's talk MotoGP: The Johann Zarco situation is much more complex than it seems

It's time for the season debrief. As every winter for the past two years, this column analyzes each rider's campaign in detail, from the lowest-ranked to the world champion. The aim is to provide a reasoned perspective on the performance of each of our heroes, so we can all discuss it together. Are you ready for this new installment, dedicated to Johann Zarco? Let's go!

Yesterday's episode was dedicated to Luca Marini; you can find it by clicking here.

 

Johann Zarco, caught between two worlds

 

The simple question: "Did Johann Zarco have a good season or not?" This has put me in a difficult position, hence the title of this article. Indeed, when it comes to taking stock, I find myself facing a unique situation in 2025, one that is very difficult to assess. So let's start by looking at the figures, which rarely lie.

 

 

Zarco finished 12th in the championship I predicted he'd finish 14th, so I wasn't far off. However, I didn't expect such high highs and such low lows. He remains the top Honda rider in the overall standings, certainly, but in many respects, he's having a less successful season than Luca Marini, who finished last in 2024 (the Frenchman scored fewer points per race). The top 10 was once easily attainable, but ultimately, he is far from it, 24 points behind to be precise.

My first observation is the following: No, these figures are not incredible.Furthermore, if we look at the nature of the races, apart from a few heats I'll mention shortly, there's nothing extraordinary. Zarco crashed a lot; in fact, he's the rider with the most crashes in 2025. On Sunday alone, he had six retirements, which is enormous. There were many mistakes, and then there was the… strange communication in Hungary. where he told the press that he did not have the same equipment as the two official pilots, which created a real national scandal.

Indeed, this difference in treatment must have affected his performance (especially after Austria), but I mainly get the impression that it affected his morale. He perhaps saw his dream of becoming a Honda factory rider, or at least of competing on equal terms with the factory riders, crumble. This was evident in his media appearances and press conferences, where one had the opportunity to speak with someone who seemed disturbed.This was followed by a glaring lack of confidence on the RC213V, and rather poor results for much of the year. From the British GP to GP of San Marino, that is, nine racesHe did not make it into the top 10 even once on Sunday.

When I describe his season in detail, That doesn't seem crazyThat's clear. It looks more like a failure than a resounding success, but a few Grand Prix could change things.

 

The races that matter

 

I'm getting ahead of myself, but I can't call his season disappointing. His single French Grand Prix victory is enough to make it a success, because he made history at Le Mans, plain and simple. If that victory were all it was, it would be enough for me, but there was also a very strong start to the entire season, notably marked by two other stunning performances: in Qatar, with a fourth place following the disqualification of Maverick Vinales, and at Silverstone, where he climbed onto the second step of the podium, all in dry conditions.

 

 

For Honda and LCR, who hadn't experienced anything like this since Alex Rins in 2023, it's no small matter. So, yes, I don't really have any other arguments in his favor, but this one is more than enough. To illustrate this paradox, nothing beats a statistic. : he is the lowest-ranked Grand Prix winner in a season, excluding injury, since Miguel Oliveira at the end of his 2021 campaign (14th).

 

Conclusion

 

Indeed, when viewed as a whole, his season leaves a slightly bitter taste, especially considering the early races where a spectacular campaign was expected. Perhaps we could have expected better consistency, and above all, hoped for a promotion to the factory team next year – which, it should be remembered, was his initial wish. In the end, he finished only 12th in the championship, narrowly missed being beaten by Marini, crashed extensively, and lost confidence in his bike, never fully regaining it. However, his victory in France, historic in more ways than one, completely overshadows the negative and will forever remain the defining image of his 2025 season., much more than the numerous mistakes and that famous interview at Balaton Park.

I'm curious to hear your opinion on her 2025 season. What did it inspire in you? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: HRC