MotoGP race winner Johann Zarco admits that he isn’t “scared” about losing his riding style on the LCR Honda, having made the move from Pramac Ducati for the 2024 season.
Following a four-year stint with the Italian manufacturer for both Avintia and Pramac teams, Zarco took the plunge and moved to LCR at the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).
Amid HRC’s difficulties in the last few years – which have seen both the factory and LCR bikes struggle – Zarco is bidding to help the Japanese marque climb back up the order.
The Frenchman’s ambitious switch has drawn parallels to his transfer to KTM from Tech3 Yamaha for the 2019 season, which ended without him completing an entire season.
However, Zarco is not worried about that situation with the Dutch outfit materialising again with LCR, citing that his experience with Ducati has prepared him for the challenge.
“I was scared when I moved from the Yamaha to the KTM,” he said to Motorsport.com. “That’s why I quit KTM, [I was] really worried about losing my skill.
“I don’t have this scare anymore because of what I learned in Ducati. I have so many references for myself that I can see the situation much better.
“Thanks to this I can really split my mind between, ‘where can be the material [bike], where I am and where I can be’.”
“It’s a good question but thanks to my age and my experience I know that I can trust the project.
“And almost, I would say wait [for results], because I have enough experience to not lose this confidence.”
Zarco’s outing in Qatar saw him as the highest classified Honda rider with a respectable 12th place, finishing ahead of both factory Honda riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini.
Over the winter, Honda has failed to make as much progress as it hoped, but Zarco remains confident that LCR is close enough to compete for consistent points finishes.
“When I was in KTM I was not even able to fight,” he said. “And when I see now, okay it’s a fight for 13th, 14th or 12th position, but now the level of everyone is so close.
“Even if we fight around the 12th position, [it] means something. So doesn’t mean we are out of the game.
“That’s why it’s really something. I’m happy to do this challenge because I will feel that I will not lose control of myself.”
