MotoGP | Zarco hopes for "some podiums" with Honda in 2024

“A new project to develop”. With these words Johann Zarco described his arrival in Team LCR, where he will help Honda improve after four very difficult seasons in MotoGP.

“I hope to get good results to bring joy to the whole team,” said the Frenchman, interviewed by the official MotoGP website. Aware that his future was blocked in Ducati, which had offered him only another year without guarantees with Prima Pramac Racing before sending him to the Superbike World Championship, he allowed himself to be seduced by the two-season contract with an option for the third which offered LCR, despite knowing that ending up at Honda would likely compromise his chances of shining.

The revolution that the brand has undertaken to progress finally seems to be bearing fruit. The RC123V is not yet ready to play a leading role, but like the factory team riders, who are aiming for the podium from mid-season, Zarco feels it will have the opportunity to achieve good results this year.

“It's a real pleasure to start a new chapter because the experience I had with Ducati was incredible. I achieved at least one victory! But it seems that history with Ducati has been written and it was nice to face a new challenge, a risky challenge because clearly, when I signed last August, I didn't sign for the best bike and it seemed like it would be difficult to fight at the front and accept being often very low in the standings.”

Johann Zarco

“Fortunately, with the new bike it seems that the situation will not be like this for the 2024 season and for this I am very happy. It is an opportunity to write a new chapter, to live a new experience, to take advantage of what I have experienced in the past to control myself and give the best possible feedback to Honda. If we do a good job and fight for some podiums, it will be incredible. It's a spark that I want to keep alive as long as I'm in MotoGP.”

Zarco was able to compare the 2023 Honda, which he tested in Valencia last November, with different versions of the 2024 model and for him the brand gained “at least” seven tenths per lap with the new bike, offering much better prospects.

“It's a good thing because with the old bike it would have been very complicated. I'm very impressed with what Marc did with the old bike, he was the only one to stay in front even if he crashed or wasn't able to finish the races well. He was always able to be fast and for me it wasn't possible to do it with the old bike. I'm happy to have the new bike because I'm playing with it, and that's positive.”