Johann Zarco and Luca Marini’s Honda contracts end in 2025 – Is there a prospect for Zarco in the factory team? – He himself speaks of “pure prestige”
Veteran Johann Zarco has become an integral part of Honda. The Frenchman finished the 2024 season in 17th place in the World Championship, outperforming his three fellow Honda riders. Zarco scored 55 championship points, while Joan Mir and Luca Marini combined for just 35.
Even now, after three race weekends, Zarco is the best Honda rider and is in seventh place in the championship, although he only has five points more than Marini after the point-less weekend in the USA.
The question of the future will soon arise in early summer. Although Zarco rides for the satellite team LCR, he is under contract with Honda. The agreement is still valid until the end of the 2025 season. This is also the case with Marini in the factory team.
Last year I extended his contract until the end of 2026. Rookie Somkiat Chantra, Zarco’s teammate at LCR, has been given a chance for 2025. His contract also includes an option for 2026.
Especially in the case of Zarco and Marini, Honda will have to consider whether to extend their contracts. Would it be possible for the two to swap places in 2026? According to Zarco, however, this would hardly make any difference in practice.
“I think moving up to the factory team can be very nice, but I can’t really say it would be a classic move,” the Frenchman tells MotoGP.com, ‘because we already get full support from Honda here at Lucio.’
”Moving up to the factory team would be more of a prestigious thing for a rider. We need to evaluate those opportunities. What is certain is that I have started the season pretty well and that makes people say, ‘Okay, the next step is the factory team’.”
Would Zarco like to change boxes within the Honda camp? ”In terms of prestige, I would love it because it would be something very nice. And I also want to believe that with the new regulations in 2027, Honda can maybe have the best bike.”
“I would love to be on the best bike when things change.” At 34, Zarco is currently the oldest rider on the grid. Next summer, he will celebrate his 35th birthday in mid-July. He has never spoken of retirement in the near future.
Lucio Cecchinello relies on continuity with Zarco
The LCR team has won three Grands Prix with Cal Crutchlow and one with Alex Rins. Team manager Lucio Cecchinello has been very satisfied with Zarco from the outset. Particularly strong weekends, such as in Argentina, were celebrated in the satellite team’s garage.
What would Cecchinello say if Honda transferred Zarco to the factory team? “I think he definitely deserves a chance,“ the former racer told MotoGP.com. No one has discussed the future yet.
”From our point of view, it’s a bit early to talk about next year,” Cecchinello said. ”But it’s something we’ll discuss with him, his manager and Honda in the coming months.”
“I believe that Honda will have the last word. Honda will decide on its future. From our side, we are working very well with him. I don’t see any differences in technical support, materials or developments to date.”
“In my opinion, it would be good if we could continue to work together, because it’s about building on what we’ve already created,“ Cecchinello emphasizes the importance of consistency in the technical catch-up process.
”Sometimes a change can be good – but sometimes it’s not the best situation for a rider, the team and the crew to change and be under the pressure of a factory team. But that’s just my personal opinion, of course,” says the Italian.
Whether Zarco moves up to the factory team or stays with LCR will become clear in the coming months. One thing is clear: with his experience, consistency and current form, the Frenchman has put himself in a position where Honda will struggle to get past him.
However, what the future Honda rider line-up will ultimately look like depends not only on sporting performance, but also on the manufacturer’s strategic considerations with a view to 2026 and, above all, the new technical regulations from 2027.
