Johann Zarco's (LCR Honda) surprise victory at the 2025 French Grand Prix marks a turning point for Honda, ending a victory drought since Alex Rins' success at Austin 2023. This triumph, the second consecutive for LCR Honda, stops Ducati's record 22-win streak and repositions Honda in the race.
Since the 2023 Grand Prix of the Americas, Alex Rins had entered history as the last driver to have given a victory to Honda en MotoGPAn unexpected record for the Spaniard, who had only competed in three races with RCV before breaking his leg at Mugello. But this status has just been "stolen" from him by Johann zarco, author of a heroic victory in the rain at Le Mans – triggering a war of words as surprising as it was amusing between the two rivals.
« I'm so angry! Johann took my record!" , threw Kidneys smiling after the French Grand Prix, where he could not do better than 12th. Behind the joke, a real affection for the team LCR : " no, I am really happy for Lucio Cecchinello and the whole teamThese mechanics deserve this joy."
Johann Zarco: “ Alex Rins came to me and said, 'You stole my last Honda victory!' At the time, I didn't even realize it. »
zarco confirmed the exchanges: " Alex came to me and said, 'You stole my last Honda victory!' At the time, I didn't even realize it..."A verbal duel that perfectly sums up the spirit of camaraderie in the paddock.
The victory of zarco ends a black series for Honda : latest factory success: Marc Marquez at Misano 2021. Latest victories, all signed by LCR (Rins in 2023, Zarco in 2024). Streak without a win: 22 Grands Prix (Ducati record).
A finding which underlines the extent of the decline of the Japanese brand, now distanced by Ducati but also Aprilia (victorious at COTA 2024 with Maverick Viñales) and KTM (Buriram 2022).
In a striking parallel, Yamaha – despite the pole position Quarterly at Le Mans – has not won since Sachsenring 2022. Proof that European hegemony (Ducati, Aprilia, KTM) has marginalized the Japanese giants.
While Honda attempts to rebuild, this unexpected victory could mark a turning point. As for Kidneys, now at Yamaha , he will always remember a lightning exploit... until another pilot Honda don't "steal" this status from him again!
