MotoGP: Johann Zarco extends his contract with LCR Honda? But he deserved the factory seat!

Another domino has fallen in the MotoGP rider market: Johann Zarco will continue his adventure with LCR Honda until 2026. The Frenchman, a real asset for the Japanese brand this season, will remain in the satellite structure, while many hoped to see him finally promoted to the factory team.

At 35 years, zarco is an exception in a paddock where most contracts expire by 2027, the year of the major technical upheaval. His situation therefore has an advantage: his future is assured, unlike many of his rivals.

Honda kept its decision quiet for a long time, waiting until September to officially announce half of its line-up. And it's finally LCR who wins the jackpot: a zarco confirmed for two seasons, with warranty receive the same parts than the factory drivers.

The double Moto2 world champion has already delivered a valuable victory at Le Mans and several podiums, hoisting Honda in the top 10 after a catastrophic 2024. His method — a mixture of self-criticism and a rigorous approach — is reminiscent of that of Marc Marquez, proof that experience still has value in an increasingly young championship.

Johann Zarco: Honda's savior but not promoted

While many are pleased with the extension, there are still some regrets. Why the factory Honda didn't she offer him one of her handlebars in MotoGP He certainly deserves it.

The frustration is palpable: zarco is considered in the paddock as the driver who most deserves a place at HRC, and many do not understand that Honda don't take the plunge.

The Frenchman triumphed at the Grand Prix of France, a home victory in tricky conditions. It was the culmination of in-depth work, after having regularly placed his RC213V in the top 10 at the start of the season.

But above all, zarco will remain as the man who has broke Ducati's incredible streak of 22 consecutive victories as a manufacturer. A feat achieved on a bike that, a year earlier, struggled to enter the top 10.

With the arrival of the new regulations in 2027, Honda knows she needs an experienced captain. zarco is this captain: reliable, enduring, methodical, and above all capable of providing the development necessary to close the gap with Ducati.

He may never be promoted within the factory, but by staying at LCR with equipment identical to that of the HRC, Johann zarco still becomes the cornerstone of recovery Honda en MotoGP. No offense to Alberto puig.