Zarco Contemplated Quitting Before Landing Honda MotoGP Opportunity
The Frenchman’s Daring Journey: From Ducati to Honda
In a thrilling finale to his tenure as a Ducati rider, the French sensation capped off his fourth and final season with an impressive fifth-place finish in the Pramac squad standings. Having already established himself as a force to be reckoned with, he secured his maiden MotoGP victory in Australia last October, marking a pivotal moment in his career.
Looking ahead to the next chapter of his racing journey, Zarco has forged an exciting partnership with Honda and will join the LCR squad for the upcoming two seasons commencing in 2024. This collaboration reignites their brief alliance that lasted only three races back in 2019 when Zarco was called upon as a substitute for Takaaki Nakagami who had suffered an injury.
While Ducati extended him an offer for another year, it would have eventually led him towards World Superbikes after 2024. Acknowledging his standing as one of MotoGP’s top five riders, Zarco felt this transition wasn’t fitting and sought out new horizons instead.
Following an awe-inspiring performance at the Valencia Grand Prix where he finished third (later promoted to second due to Fabio Di Giannantonio’s penalty), Zarco confessed that retirement from MotoGP had briefly crossed his mind prior to receiving the opportunity from Honda.
“When asked about my proudest moment during my time with Ducati, it’s easy to answer with my triumph at Phillip Island,” admitted Zarco. “But beyond that exhilarating win lies consistency – something I’ve strived for throughout 2021 and also this year.”
Zarco further elaborated on how he embraced new challenges presented by sprint races while reflecting on maintaining fifth place overall in the championship despite not amassing many points in those events. As the season drew to a close, he contemplated bidding farewell to MotoGP; however, the Honda offer revitalized his spirit and motivated him to continue racing for another two years.
“I’m immensely proud that I found this renewed energy within me to perform this season – securing podiums, clinching victory, and demonstrating consistency,” Zarco shared. “It’s given me a fresh perspective on my future.”
During the post-season test held last month, Zarco made his long-awaited return to Honda since his last ride in Valencia back in 2019. Completing an impressive 61 laps aboard the RC213V model set for 2024, he finished seventeenth but remained remarkably optimistic as he trailed just over a second behind the frontrunners. In fact, he outpaced his new teammate Nakagami by seven-tenths of a second – setting high expectations for their collaboration moving forward.
The Frenchman’s journey from Ducati to Honda represents both daring and determination as he embarks on this exciting new chapter of his career. With boundless potential and unwavering ambition propelling him forward, fans eagerly await what lies ahead for Johann Zarco.