Johann Zarco has paid tribute to what Marc M🀅arquez was able to achieve with last year’s Honda.

Zarco has unveiled his LCR Honda having switched from Pramac Ducati last seas𒈔on.

But after testing the ‘23 Honda, the worst bike on the grid which caused Marquez and co countless problems, he is left amazed by what the eight-time champion �🦋�was able to do.

“I am so impressꦆed with what Marc did with this bಌike,” Zarco said.

“He was the only one able to be in front.

“Even if he was crashing or could not finish the races well, he was always able tಌo be fast.

“For me, it was impossible to do on the old bike.

“I have got this new bike. I’m playi𝐆ng with it, and that’s great.”

Zarco’s optimism comes from ꦅthe 2024-spec Honda which he says i🀅s seven-tenths faster than a year ago.

“For me, yes. At least. So that’s g⛦reat,” he said.

“It’s a pleasure to start a new chapter.

“The experience with the Ducati bike was amazing.

“I got, at least, one victory!

“But it seems the story with Ducati was written.

“It was nice to take a new challenge, a risky challenge cl🎉early.

“From the moment I signed last August, I wasཧ not signing for the best bike.

“It will be tough to fight in front, and tough to accept to be far back iꦡn the classification.

“Ultimately, with the new bike, it s⛎eems that this won’t be the situation in the 2024 seas💞on.

“For this reason I am so happy.

“It’s a chance for me to write a new chapter, to get a 🍨new experience, to give good comments to Honda.

“If we do a good job like this, we fight for some podium꧙s, that wo🍨uld be amazing.

“Why not? I want to keep on racing in MotoGP.”

Zarco’s arriva🌠l as a MotoGP veteran is in place of Alex Rins at LCR Honda.

But the notab♉le change a🐲t the Japanese manufacturer is Marquez’s absence.

They have the opportunity to fight back with neꦿw concessions advantages and they hope that Zarco’s experience of developing bikes can aid them.

“Sure. They are changing the way of thinking,” Zarco saidಞ🐬.

“The factory team will use the LCR team.

“We will have four factory bikes, as Du♑cati has been 🍰doing with the factory team and Pramac.

“I arrive at a good time to enjoy the benefit of i🤪t.

The bike is really new but already develop💫in🎀g well.

“I need to trust that we can do it.

“I hope that I’m at 🦂the beginning of the development of a project.

“After the test in Valencia I went into the win🧔ter with high motivation that the project would wo✤rk.

“Now, after the test in Malaysia, ಞit is confirmation of the feeling I got in November.

“It brings confidence. Yo𓆉u feel quieter, more calm, better serenity to go to a race weekend.”

☂꧑His goal in 2024: “To be the top Honda would be good.

“Building re🤪sults to stay in the top 10 would be good consistency for the work that we need to do.

“If I am the top Honda rider, it would be great.

Naturalꦯly you compare yourself with the same bike.

“To lead the other Hondas, it’s an advantage ♈to develop the bike 🔯in my way.”

Zarco, aged 33, was finally able to win his 🌺first Mot🗹oGP race last season at Phillip Island.

He 🌠finished fifth in the standings, a ca𝔉reer-best result.

But his challenge this year will be altogether different after leaving behind the factory Ducati bike, which was used by both Francesco Bagnaia and Jꦉorge Martin in the ‘23 title battle.