'If Marquez can, why not us?' Johann Zarco targets top five finishes in 2026

18:30, 15 Feb

byAndrew McLarney

LCR Honda rider Johann Zarco has said that he was inspired by Marc Marquez during the 2025 campaign and used the Spaniard as a metric for his own performance.

The French rider was a stand-out performer in the first half of the season, collecting a memorable home win at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans as well as a podium in Silverstone which ultimately helped him finish as the highest-placed Honda rider above the factory duo of Joan Mir and Luca Marini.

if Márquez were on the Honda, he’d be in the top five. Why not us?

- Johann Zarco, LCR Honda

In an interview Autosport.com after the pre-season tests in Sepang, Zarco gave his thoughts on what it means to be Honda's top rider for the 2026 season.

"I finished the Sepang test on a positive note," said Zarco, "he feeling got better and better because the way I started on the first day and the second day, I was struggling a bit because what I was doing on the bike was not really working."

"You could feel there was a good potential to go fast and Mir and Marini were making positive comments, but I could not really be as positive as them. But at the end of the second day and the third day, I've been a bit more positive and more constant. So, this was really good. I think the bike has improved very well."

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Zarco also previously spoke to Spanish outlet MotoSan.com and gave the following verdict while explaining how Marquez motivated him during the 2025 season:

"From what I see of the bike, I have the impression that I could eventually even be in the top five. I tell myself that if Márquez were on the Honda, he’d be in the top five. Why not us?"

“I announced a top-ten finish in 2025, and we were there. We confirmed it, even though I ended up 12th, having really missed a lot of races. It would therefore be a great pleasure to get closer to the top five and experience more podium finishes in 2026.”

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