Rider Profile
2026 Season Snapshot
- Position
- 17
- Points
- 45
- Grand Prix starts
- 9
- Grand Prix wins
- 0
- Grand Prix podiums
- 0
- Pole positions
- 0
Sprint wins: 0Sprint podiums: 0
From the Rookies Cup to consecutive Moto2 titles
Johann Zarco is a French rider who won the Red Bull Rookies Cup early in his career. He entered the 125cc world championship in 2009 and finished runner-up in 2011. After moving to Moto2, he gradually accumulated podiums, won the title with Ajo in 2015 and successfully defended it in 2016.
Zarco entered MotoGP with Tech3 Yamaha in 2017, taking three Grand Prix podiums and two pole positions in his rookie season. He subsequently rode KTM, Ducati and Honda machinery, racing for factory and independent teams as well as making substitute appearances, building a varied career across manufacturers.
Two premier-class wins in different circumstances
Within Ducati’s organisation, Zarco first raced for an independent team before joining Pramac in 2021. After coming close to victory several times, he finally took his first MotoGP Grand Prix win in Australia in 2023, a major career breakthrough.
After moving to Honda LCR in 2024, he won his home French Grand Prix in 2025 and returned to the podium in Britain that year. The Australian and French victories came on different manufacturers’ bikes, showing why his results should be understood within each weekend’s machinery, weather and strategy.
His 2026 role at Honda LCR
In 2026, Zarco continues on the number 5 Honda RC213V at Honda LCR alongside premier-class newcomer Diogo Moreira. The two sides of the garage use different liveries and partner names, with Zarco’s side retaining the Castrol Honda LCR identity.
Pairing a rider with experience across several manufacturers with a rookie Moto2 champion gives the team both an experienced reference and a development storyline. Zarco’s performances can also be compared with Honda’s factory team to assess how the same brand’s machinery works in different garages.
What to watch
Mixed weather, the timing of bike changes and tyre selection are specific starting points for watching Zarco. Compare grid position with changes in position late in the main race to understand how he pursues results in different conditions. His home victory in 2025 is a useful example of strategy and execution combining to shape a race.
Statistics scope
Historical statistics on this page cover only the MotoGP premier class, with Grand Prix wins and Sprint wins listed separately. Moto2, Moto3, 125cc and WorldSBK honours are described separately in the biography. The figures are a snapshot of the official API on 1 October 2026; see this site’s standings for the latest points.
Last checked: 1 October 2026 · Historical statistics and current points are maintained separately