Repsol Honda Still Hesitating To Make Johann Zarco A Substitute For Marc Marquez

Pramac Ducati racer, Johann Zarco. (Photo: Instagram.com/@johannzarco)

JAKARTA - Johann Zarco's conversation with Repsol Honda was about his opportunity to replace Marc Marquez for the 2024 MotoGP. However, the results were not very satisfying because Zarco said Honda did not believe in his abilities.

Zarco made this statement in an interview with Sky Italia. He admitted that he had been involved in talks with Honda on the sidelines of the Mandalika MotoGP and the Australian MotoGP, last weekend.

Next season Zarco is confirmed to join LCR Honda, but he said the opportunity to replace Marc Marquez in the Honda factory team was very small. The main reason is clear because both parties do not understand each other.

"I can't ignore the chances of the factory team (Repsol Honda). I need to think about it and (Lucio) Cecchinello (the owner of the LCR) respects this," Johann Zarco was quoted as saying by Crash on Monday, October 23.

"My manager, both in Indonesia and here in Australia, spoke with Repsol Honda. But we saw they were hesitant and I didn't like it," he added.

This made the 2015 and 2016 Moto2 world champions finally decide to continue racing with LCR Honda in MotoGP 2024.

"So I prefer to honor my commitment to Lucio, rather than riding a factory motorbike in a team with projects that I'm not 100 percent sure about," Zarco said.

"Lucio is a good person, he works very seriously and correctly. He's been managing the satellite team for years, working together will be a great opportunity," Zarco said confirming certainty of survival with LCR.

Zarco's decision to continue to strengthen LCR Honda next season has Honda having two replacement candidates for Marc Marquez, namely Maverick Vinales and Miguel Oliveira. However, both drivers still have contracts with Aprilia and RNF until the end of the 2024 MotoGP.