The year 2026 begins on a mixed note for Johann Zarco. While the new Honda seems promising, the French rider is still struggling to find his bearings. After a last season marked by difficulties, he approaches the tests in Sepang with a mix of hope and concern, trying to distance himself from the confusion that has held him back.
The First Tests: A Path Filled with Obstacles
Johann Zarco started the season by heading to Sepang, an iconic circuit where high temperatures and constant humidity test the riders and their machines. Although the Frenchman acknowledges notable progress in his Honda’s performance, he still has a long way to go to regain a natural riding style. On the first day, he admitted to struggling to find a satisfactory setup base, which made his work more complex than he would have liked.
This Wednesday, the work continued with the exploration of the bike’s limits. Zarco noted difficulties particularly with braking, which led him to question the balance of his machine. “I learned that the right balance is a very narrow zone, as long as you don’t find it,” he explained. The tests provided some clarity, but the path remains filled with obstacles.
In Search of the Right Balance
The rider described his quest for sensations as a real challenge. “Once you have it, then the work becomes easier and there’s also more pleasure in being on the bike,” he stated. Finding the right setup often requires testing several configurations, and Zarco realized that he was sometimes just a hair away from the right solutions without reaching them.
Johann Zarco still seems to be in search of sensations on the new Honda.
Despite these difficulties, he highlighted a positive evolution: “Today, it was nice to end the day with a smile. I let out a little sigh of relief: ‘ah yes, we are finally back to something normal!'” This statement reflects his need to regain a certain balance and to fully enjoy his machine.
Zarco Facing His Competitors
Within the Honda camp, optimism is palpable. While his teammates, like Aleix Espargaró, Joan Mir, and Luca Marini, display great confidence, Zarco remains more reserved. “I’m not on the same trend as them because, for now, I haven’t really found the right balance that suits me on the bike,” he admitted. Although he sees an improvement in the machine’s performance, he cannot yet afford to be as enthusiastic as his peers.
This situation creates a disparity within the team, and while Mir and Marini seem comfortable on their mounts, Zarco is still struggling to find his bearings. “I feel that the bike’s performance is very high, it has improved a lot, and even I can be fast, but I can be fast without being comfortable,” he added, thus highlighting the challenge he faces.
Johann Zarco still needs to progress with the Honda 2026.
Logistical and Climatic Challenges
This start to the year has also been complicated by logistical constraints. Indeed, Honda could only provide one bike to Zarco during the tests, a situation that does not make things easier. “Of course, no doubt about it,” he stated when talking about the similarities between his machine and those of the official riders.
Lucio Cecchinello, the team principal of LCR, confirmed that the bike has made significant progress, but he remains aware of the challenges to be met for his rider. “We still need to find a better balance on the bike,” he declared. The weather conditions also played a role in these tests. Rain disrupted the sessions, limiting the useful track time for the riders.
“We were a bit unlucky with this rain,” Zarco acknowledged. Switching to rain tires didn’t make sense with so little time left on the circuit. This climatic uncertainty added a layer of complexity to his preparations.
Heading Towards the First Race: A Need for Consistency
As the first race of the season approaches, Zarco knows he must improve his consistency. “I think tomorrow will be a difficult day,” he predicted. The goal is clear: improve his lap times while gaining regularity. “In the end, before the rain, I still made progress in this area,” he concluded. Time is against him, but the Frenchman remains determined to fight to be among the best from the start.
