Zarco defends his options to get on the official Honda team

The Honda satellite pilot Johann Zarco has spoken in the clearest possible terms about his desire to occupy Luca Marini’s seat in 2026. Although the Frenchman has not mentioned the name of the Italian in an interview granted to the official MotoGP website before his home career, that of Le Mans, this weekend, Marini’s contract expires at the end of this season. The other HRC official pilot, Joan Mir, has its continuity assured until 2026.

After an impressive start of 2025 in the Team LCR, Zarco has been as direct as ever about his desire to take a step forwardand has also given clues about the direction that negotiations are taking.

“Conversations with Honda are very, very positive“said the 34 -year -old pilot.” But being so clear with Lucio [Cecchinello, su actual jefe en el LCR] It’s so nice … [poder] Talk to him and be sincere to 100%. ” He knows that an opportunity to ascend to the official team is important for a pilot; Also for a sports career“.

Despite piloting a satellite RC213V, Zarco has been the de facto leader of Honda’s resurgence. His 43 -point harvest places him seventh in the World Cup. There are 11 more than Marini and 32 more than Mir. His best results to date have been the classification in the first row of the Grand Prix of Argentina in March and fourth place in the long race of Qatar last month.

“As a fast pilot [con una] Honda, it may be interesting to become that number one pilot and I would like to take that step “Zarco continued, whose only Sunday victory arrived in Australia 2023, even with Ducati.

“So we are really talking, and trying to understand what can be the best. I know I feel super good here [en LCR]and that I have all Honda’s support too. But we have to evaluate whether this prestigious seat in the official team is what I need. It’s something I want … but too [tenemos que] See how [funcionaría] For Lucio. It is quite pleasant to have this freedom of expression between Lucio, Honda and me. “

Although the speculation about a change from Zarco to the official motorcycle has shot themselves, a quiet Marini declared on Thursday the media that his negotiations with Honda had also begun and that was still soon.

And although there is close cooperation between the official Honda and the CSF team, the hierarchical order has been exposed before the France GP weekend. The official team tested a somewhat improved engine in the Jerez test and could use it this weekend, but Zarco will not be able to use it in Le Mans.

“I have not been able to try the new engine still because the factory team was working on it, and we had other things to do with the CSF team“He explained. In statements to the French media, Zarco added:” The official team liked it a lot, and I think they will continue to develop this weekend. [Pero] We have enough [mejoras] To pay well. “