Johann Zarco pushes Honda closer to the podium

Honda’s Johann Zarco finishes fourth in Argentina sprint, showing progress against Ducati and Aprilia.

Johann Zarco of France and Castrol Honda LCR rides during qualifying for the MotoGP of Argentina at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo on March 15, 2025, in Rio Hondo, Argentina. Photo by Gold & Goose/LAT Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Johann Zarco delivered one of his strongest performances for Honda in the 2025 MotoGP Argentina Grand Prix sprint race, finishing just outside the podium in fourth place. His impressive pace throughout the weekend and strong qualifying run highlighted Honda’s progress after two difficult seasons. Zarco’s third-place start marked the first time since the 2023 Italian Grand Prix that a Honda rider secured a front-row position, underlining the LCR Honda team’s improvements.

At the front of the grid, Marc Marquez continued his dominant form with Ducati-Lenovo. The six-time MotoGP champion secured pole position and led every practice session at the Termas de Río Hondo Circuit, reinforcing his status as the title favorite. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Alex Marquez, showcased competitive speed on his Ducati Gresini machine, lining up alongside Francesco Bagnaia, who aimed to defend his world title after starting from fourth.

The sprint race began under tricky conditions as light drizzle made the track slippery. Marc Marquez got off to a perfect start, surging ahead into the first corner, with Alex Marquez and Bagnaia closely following. Zarco, despite his strong qualifying, struggled off the line and dropped to sixth place in the opening laps.

Behind him, Pedro Acosta and Fabio Quartararo mounted aggressive overtakes, while KTM’s Brad Binder suffered an early crash that ended his race. The high level of competition was evident as multiple riders fought for positions in the midfield.

Zarco found his rhythm midway through the race, reclaiming fifth place from Acosta and setting his sights on Bagnaia in third. The battle at the front intensified as Bagnaia applied pressure on Alex Marquez while Marc Marquez extended his lead.

Lap five saw further drama when Fermin Aldeguer and Miguel Oliveira collided, sending Oliveira off track with a suspected collarbone injury. Aldeguer managed to rejoin the race, but his chances of a top finish were gone.

With three laps remaining, Marc Marquez stretched his lead to 0.7 seconds over Alex Marquez, while Bagnaia fought to stay ahead of Zarco. The French rider recorded the fastest lap of the race in his pursuit of the podium but ultimately fell short, finishing fourth behind Bagnaia.

Despite missing out on a top-three finish, Zarco’s performance signaled Honda’s growing competitiveness. His ability to keep up with the Ducati riders was a positive sign for HRC, which has struggled against its European rivals in recent seasons.

Marc Marquez secured another dominant sprint victory, extending his strong start to the 2025 season. Alex Marquez finished second, making it a Marquez family double on the podium, while reigning champion Bagnaia defended third place under pressure from Zarco.

Honda’s resurgence shows promise for 2025

Beyond the top four, Fabio Di Giannantonio took fifth, followed by Marco Bezzecchi and Franco Morbidelli. Joan Mir, after a slow start, fought back to eighth, passing Acosta in the final laps.

Fabio Quartararo endured another frustrating race on the Yamaha, finishing tenth, while Jack Miller and Alex Rins completed the top 12. Maverick Viñales and Ai Ogura failed to score points, ending outside the top 15.

With this result, Honda moved up to third in the manufacturer standings, trailing only Ducati and Aprilia. Zarco’s performance, combined with Mir’s recovery, provided a boost for the Japanese team as they seek a return to the top.

While Zarco missed the podium in the sprint, his competitive pace suggests that Honda is closing the gap on Ducati and Aprilia. With the full-length Grand Prix race still ahead, the LCR Honda rider has another opportunity to fight for his first podium of the season and cement Honda’s resurgence in the 2025 MotoGP campaign.