Johann Zarco remains focused on achieving victory in MotoGP races as he looks ahead to the 2026 season, fueled by his impressive win at the 2023 French Grand Prix. His MotoGP dream continues to inspire him following his progress with the LCR Honda team, where he now competes.
Zarco Reflects on Past Victories and Future Ambitions
Having secured his second MotoGP win at Le Mans last year, Zarco has proven his talent after also winning the 2023 Australian Grand Prix with Pramac Ducati. Despite switching to LCR Honda in 2024, Zarco did not expect to achieve a race victory with his new team but surpassed expectations by winning his home Grand Prix. This success has motivated him to keep aiming for race wins in the premier class.
The goal is to still dream about victories,
Zarco shared during the LCR Honda team launch on February 1.
He further explained his outlook on competition:
Now, with many years of experience, I know that the dream is to fight for the world title but I don’t know if it’s doable, so try to catch opportunities of podiums.
Optimism from Early Testing and Team Developments
While Zarco has not yet tested a MotoGP bike for the 2026 season, Honda’s progress was evident during the recent Sepang Shakedown test held from January 29 to 31. Test rider Aleix Espargaro and rookie teammate Diogo Moreira both showed promising pace, which Zarco found encouraging for what lies ahead.
I’m very pleased with the performance of the new Honda – the comments of the riders is pretty good, too,
Zarco said.
He added,
“Aleix Espargaro has been very fast, but Diogo [Moreira] is adapting very well and – you can see the lap time – he’s fast, too.”
So, at least the bike is fast, lap time is fast, so this gives great hopes for the 2026 season.
Preparing for the New Season with Cautious Confidence
Zarco’s official testing schedule for 2026 will begin on February 3 during the three-day Sepang Test, though final details are still in development.
Testing plan for sure we have,
he explained.
“The team is still working on it to adjust a few things.”
He expressed enthusiasm about returning to Malaysia after the winter break:
We know it’s going to be very warm, but we have a bit of time to get back in the pace and try at least to find this great feeling to keep it to start well the season.
Johann Zarco’s continued dedication and optimism highlight a determined approach as he prepares to challenge for podiums and possibly contend for the world title with LCR Honda. The progress shown in testing and his reflective attitude suggest he is ready to pursue his MotoGP dream with renewed hope in the 2026 season.
