LCR Honda confident after closing gap to MotoGP frontrunners

LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco sees progress in Thailand, closing the gap to MotoGP’s frontrunners.

Johann Zarco of France and LCR Honda sits on his bike in the pit lane during the first free practice of the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on November 1, 2024. Photo by Mohd Rasfan/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Johann Zarco believes his performance at the MotoGP Thai Grand Prix was a significant step forward for Honda, as he finished just 15.2 seconds behind race winner Marc Marquez. The LCR Honda rider, who secured seventh place, described the result as "not ridiculous" and said it provided "big hope" for the team heading into the Argentina Grand Prix.

Honda entered the 2025 MotoGP season with renewed optimism following promising results in winter testing. That progress was reflected in Thailand, where Zarco surpassed Honda’s best 2024 finish by securing seventh place, improving on his own eighth-place result in last year’s wet race.

Despite the ongoing challenges Honda faces, particularly in engine performance, Zarco sees signs of improvement. The reduced gap to the front runners compared to last year suggests the team is moving in the right direction.

Honda’s progress fuels optimism for upcoming races

Zarco expressed his satisfaction with the Thai Grand Prix result, emphasizing the importance of maintaining this momentum in the coming rounds.

“Pretty happy with this result,” Zarco said. “It gives big hope for the next races to bring this to the team. Also, looking at the gap to the top riders, 15 seconds is not ridiculous for a long race like this and a tough race.

“It’s maybe better than what I could expect, and I take it. I don’t know if it’s the closest one, but it’s a good one compared to the sprint.”

Zarco acknowledged that Honda still struggles with tire performance in the early stages of races, a key factor in maximizing results.

“I guess we still have a problem when the tire is fresh or we can use more grip from a soft rear tire. We lose out in the first third of a race because we are not using the new tires well,” he explained.

“In the past, we were losing the most time in the first seven or nine laps. Maybe the pace looked a bit slower here, and this helped me manage it. I saw [Franco] Morbidelli and [Ai] Ogura pulling away, but I was in the top-10 group and told myself, ‘Stay there, there are four guys in front of you, keep your focus, and maybe you will get something good at the end.’”

Honda still seeking engine improvements

While Zarco remains encouraged by Honda’s progress, one of the biggest challenges for the Japanese manufacturer is closing the power deficit to its rivals.

The lack of engine power has been a consistent complaint from Honda riders, and Zarco admitted that Thailand’s extreme heat may have exacerbated the issue. However, he believes the Argentina Grand Prix could provide a more favorable environment.

Asked when Honda might introduce an updated engine, Zarco remained uncertain.

“No idea,” he said. “I guess here was more difficult for us because it seems in Malaysia our engine was better than here in Thailand.

“So maybe the heat was giving us more disadvantage than the other brands. Let’s see in a place where the temperature is more normal if we can get back this advantage.”

With the Argentina Grand Prix on the horizon, Zarco and Honda will be hoping that the progress shown in Thailand translates into further gains. As the season unfolds, Honda’s ability to address its remaining weaknesses will determine whether it can close the gap to the leading manufacturers.