Confidence in Maintaining Momentum – Johann Zarco on Aragon, 2026 Talks, and Understanding His Own Limits
Johann Zarco expressed satisfaction with his recent form and a growing sense of control over both his machine and his performance, even at a track like Aragon — which he admits doesn’t naturally suit his style due to its many left-hand corners. Despite this, improvements in bike feeling and his own adaptability have given him confidence.
Currently enjoying a positive run with two strong finishes in a row, Zarco also revealed that discussions are underway regarding his future beyond 2025, with a continued role at Honda as his preferred path—though the possibility of a factory seat is on the table.
Johann Zarco:
“I’m happy to be racing closely with the top riders again. Aragon isn’t the best track for me because of all the left-hand corners, but the bike’s feeling has really improved. I understand my own weaknesses better now, and I feel I can use the bike’s strengths to my advantage. We’re coming off two really good races, so I feel we’re in a strong rhythm.”
“Since before Le Mans, I’ve been in talks about continuing with Honda into 2026. But now, after two podiums recently, there are conversations at the top level about whether I’ll move into a factory seat with HRC next year.”
Zarco also praised Honda’s technical progress:
“The bike has improved a lot. Its behavior when the throttle is closed is solid, and the corner entry is one of its strong points. On tracks with good grip, we can run very well. I’m looking forward to seeing how the race goes here. Performing consistently through every left-hand corner will be a challenge, though.”
He noted that the competitive gap between manufacturers has narrowed:
“At Silverstone, the performance gap between manufacturers was very small. Seeing non-Ducati teams fighting for the podium is great for the championship. But if the track conditions are perfect, Ducati still has an edge—they definitely have more potential.”
Zarco also touched on his recent experience at the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race:
“I really like the CBR, and comparing my riding with Takumi Takahashi is interesting—he’s very fast at Suzuka. But it’s tough for me because I don’t get much sleep, and I’m not in peak physical or mental condition when I ride there. I was only in Japan for 49 hours, but even then, there were fans who knew I was coming and made the effort to see me. That made me really happy.”
(Photo courtesy of Michelin)