Johann Zarco's summer was different from that of other drivers. In the middle of summer, the Frenchman made a stopover in Japan to compete in a motorcycle endurance world championship event with Honda. A fruitful weekend of competition for the Frenchman, who gave HRC a historic thirtieth victory.
During the rest of the MotoGP season, the Cannes resident continued to assert that this triumph had strengthened his links with the brand he joined at the start of the year. He might therefore want to repeat the experience.
Asked about this last week, during Honda's celebration weekend in Tokyo, Johann Zarco even suggested that he was already in contact with the people concerned within the HRC.
“I am delighted to be here in Japan. I'm only here for two days, but it's good, confides the Habs during the Honda Season Finale, the festival organized by the brand to pay tribute to its 2024 season. I really liked the Suzuka 8H. I did a test before the race [au mois de juin. Ndlr]to discover the trail. It was incredible.
However, I felt much more comfortable during the race week, he continues. I enjoyed teaming up with Takumi [Takahashi] and Teppei [Nagoe]. We haven't talked much, but you don't have to talk much because you feel the same things, and you share a common goal. In the end, it was my only victory of the year. It was a great experience, really. We see that we can do it next year, and we're trying to organize it, because it's a great place to race. »
He likes the challenge all the more as the competition will be tough this summer. “We saw in 2024 that there are new adversaries who are coming very strong. The Yamahas are always very strong. But there are also the Ducatis, which can be very fast, adds Johann Zarco. So in 2025, we need the best driver trio. »
Complications for Zarco?
Johann Zarco, however, says he is confident, and believes he has the necessary qualities to defend his title against all the brands mentioned above.
“We have been very consistent this season, with Takumi and Teppei. In 2025, we must find something more to be better and regain victory. On a technical level, the design of Honda's bike gives us an advantage, and we must exploit it to achieve victory in 2025.”
The last word will therefore go to Honda, and it seems that a constraint could arise in the face of Zarco's candidacy. In 2025, other motorcycle world championships allow their riders to take time off during the month of July.
« As Iker Lecuona says [pilote de World Superbike. Ndlr] said it, with the MotoGP calendar, we have the possibility of doing it. So that would be cool. We need to find time to organize a test first. But this season, Honda will have more choice, because Superbike riders are available too. »
One thing is certain, the format of endurance races appeals to the Frenchman. The latter would therefore be able to compete in races even longer than the Suzuka 8H.
“It was important in these difficult times in MotoGP to experience glory in Endurance. I had 8 hours to discover all this, but maybe later, in France, I will have the pleasure of riding for 24 hours. »
READ ALSO > Johann Zarco offers historic triumph to HRC at Suzuka
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