MotoGP: Johann Zarco to stay at Honda-LCR in 2026 and 2027

French MotoGP rider Johann Zarco will continue to ride for the next two seasons for the Honda-LCR team, having failed to secure a seat at Honda's factory team as he had hoped, the Japanese manufacturer's satellite team announced on Monday.

"Castrol Honda-LCR is proud to announce that (...) Johann Zarco will continue his collaboration with the team for the 2026 and 2027 seasons," the team said in a press release.

Current Honda factory team riders Luca Marini and Joan Mir will remain with the team next season. The Italian has just announced a contract extension, while the Spaniard still has one year left on his contract.

Honda-LCR justifies its continued collaboration with Zarco by stating that "the Japanese manufacturer recognized that Zarco and LCR together represent a highly competitive sporting and technical package, combining extensive experience with consistently strong performances for Honda."

According to the statement, the Frenchman is guaranteed "factory rider status," which "ensures him access to the same technical specifications as the official factory team, with updates and developments provided in parallel."

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At the beginning of August, Zarco had nevertheless expressed hope of being promoted to the factory team next season: "I really want to have the status of number one driver," he said.

At 35, Zarco won the French GP this season in the rain, beating the untouchable Marc Marquez, before returning to the podium two weeks later with a third place at the British GP at Silverstone.

With his bike far behind the performance of its European rivals (Ducati, Aprilia, KTM), the Frenchman is currently ninth in the championship riders' standings. Marini and Mir are 13th and 18th respectively.