A month ago, who would have bet a kopeck on Honda? Bottom of the table for three years in a row, the Japanese brand was given up for dead. And yet, at the Argentine Grand Prix, it blew the slate clean: Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) played spoilsport against the Ducati armada, and the RC213V established itself as a true rival to the reds. Second in the constructors' standings (26 points), Honda came back from nowhere, and things are starting to get people talking, notably with this question: what would Marc Marquez have done on this Honda?
The performance of Johann zarco au Argentine Grand Prix has raised serious questions about the real potential of the Honda RC213V. While the Japanese brand has had some difficult years, recent results suggest a strong comeback. Enough to pique the curiosity of Marc Marquez ?
Johann zarco was the pilot Honda the most prominent in ArgentinaQualifying on the front row of the grid, he was a serious threat for the podium in the Sprint race and fought with the Ducati until the end of the main race. At 100%, I could have aimed for the podium ", said zarco. " I was very fast at the start of the race. The new medium tire gave me a bit more speed. I could definitely have run in 1:38 and kept up with Alex and Marc. »
Although he ultimately finished sixth, zarco showed that the Honda could compete with the Ducati at a racing pace. Overall, it's pretty positive. " he added. We almost had a dream weekend, we were at the front all the way. I really don't regret this race, because I gave everything to get on the podium »
Honda, second in the constructors' championship
The performance of zarco have propelled Honda in second place in the constructors' championship, ahead of Aprilia, KTM et Yamaha This spectacular rise after three difficult years shows that the RC213V has made significant progress. The question now is what a pilot like Marc Marquez could accomplish with this bike, especially in the official team.
zarco, although impressive, has often been beaten by George Martin when they were teammates at Pramac Racing. If zarco is able to fight for the podium with a Honda, what could a pilot like Martin or even Marc Marquez with this same machine? The Honda seems to be the only bike capable of maintaining the racing pace of the Ducati, making it a serious contender for second place in the championship.
With two places available for 2026 and the contracts of Luca marini et Johann zarco expiring, Honda has the opportunity to attract a top-level rider who could maximize the potential of the RC213V. If the Japanese brand continues on this path, it could well become a major player in MotoGP again.
Meanwhile, the performance of zarco en Argentina gave Honda fans hope and showed that the RC213V still has a lot to offer. The return of Honda en MotoGP finally seems to be underway, and the championship could well be transformed.
MotoGP Constructors' Championship standings after Argentina:
