LCR MotoGP team boss Lucio Cecchinello believes Johann Zarco’s new two-year deal with Honda will be “important” in the brand’s revival.
The 35-year-old Frenchman joined the LCR satellite Honda team last year following a four-year spell on the Ducati machine that brought the maiden victory in 2023.
Johann Zarco was Honda’s leading rider at last year’s championship and is currently the best runner in 2025, earning his second career victory at the Wet French Grand Prix in May.
His update with Honda was formal, but he was pursuing a move to the factory HRC team.
On Monday, September 1st, LCR announced that Zarco had agreed to remain a factory-supported rider in a new two-year contract with Honda.
Cecchinello says he is “pleased” that Honda is confident that he will update Zarco and that his development work will be important in the progress of HRC.
“Working with Johan is simply extraordinary. His professionalism is perfect both on and off the track,” he said.
“We are pleased that HRC has renewed its trust in him over the next two years. We believe his contributions to the development of the RCV in 2026 and 2027 are important in our mission to bring Honda back to the top of the rankings.
“We are proud to be identified as a trusted partner at HRC in managing Johan and continuing to be part of the Honda family.”
Honda also confirmed on Monday that it re-signed Luka Marini to Joan Mir’s partner in the factory team for the 2026 season.
There is still one seat left in the LCR, but this is going to go to the Moto2 Frontrunner Diogo Moreira.
With Zarco and Marini transactions confirmed, only three seats remain for Pramac, LCR and VR46 respectively, which have not been confirmed for next year.