At the Qatar Grand Prix, which opened the 2024 MotoGP season, Honda's new recruit Johann Zarco captured the spotlight with his strong performance, distinguishing himself as the fastest Honda rider in both qualifying and race. Starting in 13th position at Losail, Zarco crossed the finish line in 12th place. During the race, he demonstrated his talent and strategy by overtaking Marco Bezzecchi of VR46-Ducati and Joan Mir of the official Honda Repsol team…
Lucio Cecchinello, team boss Honda LCR, shared his admiration for the Frenchman: “ Johann seems to have excellent throttle control, which reduces tire slippage with each turn » he mentions.
« It's not just a question of talent, experience also plays a big role. While riding with the rear of the bike can be fun, it is ineffective over the duration of a race. Johann, however, manages it all skillfully, limiting tire wear. In Doha, this management gave him a slight advantage ". He adds : " he was convinced that with two more laps he could have overtaken Quartararo ».
Lucio Cecchinello: “ When the opportunity to sign Johann Zarco presented itself, HRC did not hesitate »
Cecchinello also commented on the commitment of Johann zarco with Honda, evoking the departure ofAlex Rins toward Yamaha for a factory contract: “ When the opportunity to sign Zarco presented itself, HRC did not hesitate. It is greatly appreciated by all ».
It highlights the intensification of efforts to Honda to rectify the situation by MotoGP, stating: “ our collaboration with HRC has always been excellent. At the moment, our dialogue is almost constant, with regular meetings. The commitment and resources that HRC is currently deploying into the MotoGP paddock are unprecedented ».
As for the future, Lucio Cecchinello look towards the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao with optimism: “ although Portimao is not an easy track in itself, his lack of long straights could work in our favor, bringing us closer to the lead times. We saw in Qatar that our speed is competitive, but we are losing ground in the long corners and at top speed. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that we will be more competitive in Portimao ". Appointment of 22 at 24 March to have a clear heart.
