Talks progressing to assert Marini’s Honda seat in MotoGP 2026

Satellite tv for pc Honda rider Johann Zarco has spoken within the clearest phrases but about his want to take Luca Marini’s manufacturing facility seat in 2026.

Whereas the Frenchman didn’t use Marini’s identify in an interview with Dorna forward of his house race at Le Mans this weekend, the Italian’s contract is up on the finish of this season. Honda’s different manufacturing facility rider, Joan Mir, is contracted till the top of 2026.

Following a formidable begin to 2025 aboard the LCR Honda, Zarco was as forthright as ever about his want to step up – and in addition supplied robust hints concerning the course negotiations are taking.

“Talks are very, very optimistic with Honda,” mentioned the 34-year-old. “However [being] so clear with Lucio [Cecchinello, his current boss at LCR] is so good… to [be able to] converse with him and be 100% sincere. He is aware of that an opportunity to maneuver as much as the manufacturing facility group is necessary for a rider; for a profession additionally.”

Regardless of driving an impartial RC213V, Zarco has been de facto chief of Honda’s resurgence beneath new technical director Romano Albesiano in 2025.

His haul of 43 factors places him seventh within the championship. It’s additionally 11 greater than that of the constant Marini and 32 away from the crash-prone Mir’s. His highlights up to now have been qualifying on the entrance row for the Argentina Grand Prix in March and fourth place eventually month’s Qatar GP.

“As a quick rider [on a] Honda, it may be attention-grabbing to develop into this primary rider and I want to make this step,” continued Zarco, whose solely grand prix victory got here at Australia in 2023.

“So we’re actually talking and making an attempt to grasp what may be the perfect. I do know that I am feeling tremendous good right here [at LCR] and that I’ve full help from Honda too.

“However we have to consider if this prestigious seat within the manufacturing facility group is what I would like. It’s one thing I need… but in addition [we have to] see how [it would work] for Lucio. It’s fairly good to have this free speech between Lucio, Honda and me.”

Whereas hypothesis a couple of Zarco swap to the manufacturing facility bike ramps up, a peaceful Marini instructed Italian media on Thursday that his negotiations with Honda had additionally begun and that it was nonetheless early days. Negotiations with Honda might, after all, embrace matters reminiscent of Marini taking up Zarco’s LCR seat.

Whereas there’s shut co-operation between the manufacturing facility Honda group and LCR, the pecking order has been uncovered forward of the Le Mans weekend. The manufacturing facility group examined an upgraded engine straight after the final race at Jerez and plans to run it this weekend – however it won’t be obtainable to Zarco to race in entrance of his house followers.

“I couldn’t strive the brand new engine but as a result of the manufacturing facility group was engaged on it and we had different issues to do with the LCR group,” he mentioned.

Chatting with French media, Zarco added: “The official group actually appreciated it, and I feel that’s why they’re going to proceed creating it this weekend.

“[But] we’ve acquired sufficient [other improvements] to carry out nicely.”

Zarco’s LCR Honda team-mate Somkiat Chantra, who has had a difficult first few races in his rookie MotoGP season, won’t journey this weekend following surgical procedure for arm-pump.