MotoGP Indonesia: Johann Zarco: Taking over from Marc Marquez at Repsol Honda “would make sense, but…”
The Frenchman recently agreed on a two-year deal directly with Honda, to take over the LCR ride o🦄f Alex Rins.
It would therefore seem comparatively simple for Honda to now direct Zar🍃co, currently fighting for fifth in the world championship at Pramac Ducati, over to the factory Repsol seat instead.
But that could compromise LCR’s sponsorship plans, which are being constructed around havi🐎ng Zarco as 💝part of the team.
Meanwhile, other riders such a꧂s Miguel Oliveira and Maverick Vinales are also rumoured to be on Honda’s shortlist of contenders.
“I need to wait a bit for how Honda wants to h🍃andle the future,🌞” Zarco said at Mandalika on Thursday.
“Having a contract with Honda, to then take the seat of Marc would have sense but then in the position of Lucio [Cecchinello]… Having me in the team is an ꦰopportunity to get or to manage well his sponsors and do a great season.
“My work staying with LCR would almost be the same as in the factory team because I have the contract to get the factory bike and worཧk for the development, but to be 𝕴inside the factory team is a prestigious seat, to take the seat of Marc, and the rider’s mind is to catch this opportunity.
“So I wi𓆉ll have a few discussions during the weekend and my agent is there to do it. Then we n๊eed really need to have a clear idea from Honda.”
The Frenchman, still seeking a race win after 19 podiums 💫in the premier-class, also highlighted that he has already shown faith in Honda by opting to leave the best bike on the grid.
“I took the risk to leave Ducati and I have been the one to [sign] earlier than anyone else, to move and take this challenge with Honda in this momen💖t, when it is quite a critical moment," Zarco said.
“So being a factor﷽y rider after all these decisions would be like a nice shot.”
The 33-year-old insisted he wasn’t surprised that Honda also ap🧔pears to be consider🉐ing others for the Repsol seat alongside Joan Mir.
“They need𒊎 to have fo🌱ur riders for next year. At the moment there are only three so it makes sense to speak to other riders,” he said.
“Let’s sಞee because I already have this contract with Honda 𓂃so it would be sense to move up. Well, not really move up, but have the prestigious position of a factory rider.”
Peter has bꦿeen in the paddock for 20 years and has seen ꦐValentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
