Johann Zarco is shining at the start of the 2025 season. The Frenchman, the best Honda rider in 2024 at LCR (17th, 55 points), is confirming his form: 6th in the standings after three races (Thailand, Argentina, Austin), with two top 10 finishes in Grand Prix (9th and 6th) and a 4th place in the Argentine Sprint. At 34, the veteran of the grid – the oldest since the retirement of Aleix Espargaró – is establishing himself as a pillar of Honda's spectacular revival. But with his contract expiring at the end of 2025, his future is raising debates: is a factory position at HRC in 2026 within reach? Between his merit, Honda's ambitions and political games, the equation promises to be complex.
Johann zarco continues to shine within the satellite team Honda LCR, where he established himself as the brand's best rider last year and he continues this momentum in 2025. Currently sixth in the MotoGP standings after three rounds, zarco started the season with two top-10 finishes, reinforcing his status as a strong rider on the grid.
The progression of Honda in 2025 has given rise to speculation about the future of the French driver. While Joan mir is under contract, Luca Marini, his current teammate, will see his contract expire at the end of the year, and the factory handlebar Honda for 2026 becomes a major issue. zarco, with his experience and consistent performance, seems like an obvious candidate for this promotion, but other names like Peter Acosta of KTM and Toprak Razgatlioglu of the Superbike World Championship are also mentioned.
Sylvain Guintoli TNT Sports highlighted on crash.net : " he deserves it. But it becomes political. At LCR, he gets the same treatment, he has the same bike and a contract with Honda. So, for him, It's more a question of prestige. It won't change much on a technical level. »
« Honda will have the last word »
This reflection highlights a crucial aspect of the choice to come for Honda, who might be tempted to reserve this factory position for a driver with greater marketing potential, such as Acosta ou Razgatlioglu. But for LCR and Lucio Cecchinello, the priority could be to maintain zarco, which is efficient and well supported by its sponsors.
The opportunity to be an official pilot Honda in 2026 becomes all the more attractive if the manufacturer's progress continues. Guintoli did not fail to highlight the impressive transformation of Honda this season, highlighting how a package that was once considered the least competitive has now become a key element of performance in MotoGP. Let's go of the worst package that no one wanted to touch – Ai Ogura, a promising Japanese rider, didn't want to ride the bike because he didn't know if it would be competitive. It's really impressive what they did.. Amazing »
Cecchinello, the head of LCR, also indicated that " Honda will have the last word " on the composition of his team for 2026. He added that even if zarco were to change teams and team leaders, it would be a major challenge. However, he remains determined to keep zarco in its ranks, highlighting the unique character of the French driver, now aged 34 years old, and its key role in the structure LCR.
The path of zarco towards a place at home Honda in 2026 is therefore fraught with pitfalls, but if its performance continues to grow and the dynamics of Honda remains positive, the opportunity could prove to be a turning point in his career.
