Johann Zarco points out Honda’s key disadvantage after Thai GP

LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco believes the RC213V still has a major disadvantage after finishing as the top Honda rider at the 2025 Thai Grand Prix.

Johann Zarco of France and LCR Honda Castrol races during the MotoGP PT Grand Prix of Thailand 2025 at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, on March 2, 2025. Photo by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Nur

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Johann Zarco secured his best result for LCR Honda to date at the 2025 Thai Grand Prix, but the French rider left Buriram believing that the RC213V still has a critical disadvantage compared to its rivals. Despite finishing as the top Honda rider in the season-opener, Zarco highlighted that the bike’s engine struggles in high temperatures, a concern that could impact Honda’s competitiveness throughout the season.

The 2025 MotoGP season kicked off in Buriram following a two-day pre-season test at the same venue. Zarco experienced mixed results during testing, setting the seventh-fastest time on Day One but dropping to 16th on Day Two. These fluctuations translated into a P12 qualifying position, where he was narrowly outpaced by Honda factory rider Joan Mir, who took P11.

In the Sprint Race, Zarco finished P10, just behind Mir in P9. However, he responded in the main race by finishing seventh, making him the best Honda rider on Sunday. His performance at Buriram marked his strongest result with Honda since rejoining LCR in 2024, surpassing his previous best finish of P8 at the same track last season.

Ducati dominates as Zarco fights for Honda

While Zarco fought to extract the maximum from his Honda, Ducati continued its dominance at the front. Marc Marquez took victory in his Ducati debut, leading a top-four lockout for the Italian manufacturer. Francesco Bagnaia finished second, sandwiched between Gresini’s Alex Marquez in third and VR46’s Franco Morbidelli in fourth.

Behind the Ducati quartet, Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura secured fifth, followed by Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi in sixth. Zarco’s seventh-place finish put him ahead of the remaining Honda riders, including factory star Luca Marini, who finished P12, and LCR rookie Somkiat Chantra, who ended the race in P18. Meanwhile, Mir crashed out on Lap 15 while fighting for a possible top-seven finish.

Honda’s engine struggles in the heat

Despite the solid result, Zarco expressed concern about Honda’s engine performance, particularly in the hot conditions of Buriram. He believes that the RC213V’s power output is inconsistent, making it difficult to compete with Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM on equal terms.

“We have no idea,” Zarco admitted when asked about potential engine upgrades from Honda, as quoted by Paddock-GP. “I think it was more difficult for us here because, in Malaysia, our engine felt stronger than in Thailand. Maybe the heat affected us more than the other brands. We will see in a place where the temperature is normal if we can make up for this disadvantage.”

Zarco previously suggested that Honda could gain three-tenths of a second per lap if they resolved the vibration issues that hampered him during pre-season testing in Sepang. The Buriram test allowed Honda to close the gap to the leaders, but the Thai Grand Prix demonstrated that there is still work to be done.

Mir and Marini see progress despite challenges

While Zarco pointed out Honda’s shortcomings, his factory counterpart Luca Marini remained optimistic despite finishing outside the top ten. After a disastrous start, where he failed to engage his launch device, Marini recovered from last place to finish P12, securing points in the season-opener.

Mir also saw positives in Honda’s performance, stating that the Thai GP “confirms” the brand’s recovery. However, his race ended prematurely after he crashed in the final corner due to front tire issues. He later revealed that he had suffered burns and blisters on his hamstrings due to the extreme heat, which affected his concentration and ultimately led to his fall.

With the Argentina Grand Prix next on the calendar, Honda will be looking to address its weaknesses and build on the progress shown in Thailand. Zarco’s seventh-place finish provided a glimpse of potential, but without engine improvements, the RC213V may struggle to keep up with its European rivals in the long run.