Johann Zarco Secures Honda’s Best MotoGP Result Since Marquez, Eyes Progress at Motegi

Johann Zarco climbs into the top ten for Honda, hinting at potential in Motegi

Honda's best MotoGP performance since Marc Marquez's showing in Buriram 2023.

Johann Zarco secured Honda's initial top ten MotoGP finish since Marc Marquez's performance at Buriram in 2023, by finishing ninth at the Mandalika race on Sunday.

Despite gaining positions due to mishaps involving competitors, Zarco's performance over the weekend was noteworthy. The French rider achieved his best qualifying position of the season in seventh place and secured an eighth-place finish in the Sprint.

The disadvantage of a bad beginning in the grand prix was swiftly overturned when four riders crashed in front of him at Turn 3, yet the LCR racer ended the first lap in eleventh position.

"Zarco expressed his contentment, stating, "We're lagging behind initially, a fact we're aware of yet unable to change at present. However, when I noticed Jack and [Vinales] already heavily competing, I realized I could narrow the gap by turn 3, though I opted to proceed with caution. Upon witnessing their crash, I thought, 'Alright, this is my chance. Time to pursue the leading pack.'"

Zarco passed both Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo in the next lap, yet was unable to distance himself from them. Along with KTM's Brad Binder, the four riders engaged in a close contest for the majority of the race, vying for sixth position.

"Passing the other riders swiftly was a challenge for me. Initially, Maverick found it tough, and then Brad too faced difficulties. The main issue was the bike's inability to accelerate quickly out of corners, which held me back, despite my confidence in braking. Overtaking was particularly hard against Brad, who is exceptionally skilled at braking," Zarco described.

"Fabio Quartararo showed up, managed to pass me, get ahead of Brad, and take off. Once I managed to get past Brad, I clocked some fast laps, holding onto the hope that perhaps I could reach Fabio and distance myself from Brad."

As the final lap commenced, Zarco found himself sandwiched between Quartararo and Binder, yet he was unable to fend off the challenge from the South African rider.

"I attempted to manage Brad's pace and exert pressure during the final lap to maintain my lead, but he went on the offensive against me. I countered with another attempt at an attack, yet he handled it skillfully. Besides, I was content with where I stood in the rankings. Hence, I'm satisfied with securing a spot in the top 10."

"Starting Friday, it appeared that the track was well-suited for us, and I'm pleased I seized the chance on both Saturday and Sunday."

Zarco mentioned receiving gratitude from "numerous Japanese [team members]" following the Sprint race and attributed his success to improvements in his braking technique as well as enhanced capabilities from the most recent Honda fairing update.

However, he also thinks that the track suited their advantages while cautioning that problems with speeding up still persist. Therefore, he's eager to observe how the RC213V does when it's showcased to the HRC leaders in Japan this coming weekend.

"Let's look forward to Motegi," Zarco expressed. "Obviously, I'm feeling more driven and confident, and there's an added sense of joy when I get on the bike, especially knowing I'm doing well with braking. But it's also important to note that in Motegi, both braking and acceleration play a significant role.

"Now, we'll find out if this issue with acceleration significantly impacts us in Motegi or if it doesn't."

Examining the configuration of this circuit reveals that the issue with gaining speed is isolated to the primary straightaway. The remainder of the course features smooth, seamless curves, which likely contributed to my ability to keep pace with competitors and achieve impressive lap times, especially with the introduction of the updated fairing.

"We'll have to wait and see if the issue with acceleration significantly affects our timing in Motegi. However, I believe the track's design was advantageous, and the choice of a harder front tire seemed to work in our favor."

Motegi will serve as an excellent opportunity to assess their capabilities and shortcomings, Zarco acknowledged, suggesting his ability to perform on a circuit with smooth transitions might bode well for the subsequent race at Phillip Island.

Takaaki Nakagami, racing for LCR, secured an eleventh-place finish on Sunday, which was later downgraded to twelfth and final position due to a penalty related to tyre pressure. The incident on the first lap also involved Repsol Honda's Luca Marini and Joan Mir.

Zarco currently leads Nakagami by six points for the 17th position in the global championship standings, making him the highest-ranked Honda rider.

Explore Further

Sign up for our MotoGP Bulletin

Receive the freshest updates, behind-the-scenes content, one-on-one conversations, and special offers from the circuit straight to your email.

For additional details, please consult our Privacy Policy.

Recent Updates

Additional Updates

Website Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Reproducing texts, photos, or illustrations fully or partially is strictly prohibited in any manner.