Two key HRC riders now confirmed for 2026

HRC have rewarded the efforts of Johann Zarco and Luca Marini with fresh contracts, with both riders having had solid seasons in 2025.

Factory rider Luca Marini has renewed with Honda HRC through the 2026 season, remaining in the factory Honda HRC Castrol team. The Italian’s sophomore year has shown clear progress on the RC213V: he has scored points in every weekend he has started in 2025, more than tripling his 2024 tally after just 12 rounds, and achieving a best result of fifth at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

In parallel, Johann Zarco will continue with CASTROL Honda LCR on a direct HRC agreement that preserves his status as a factory rider through 2027. The deal guarantees identical technical specifications to the official factory team, with updates supplied in parallel, and includes his ongoing representation of Honda at the Suzuka 8 Hours. Zarco and LCR highlight the momentum built across 2024–2025, including a victory at Le Mans in May and a podium at Silverstone, and aim to leverage HRC’s support to keep developing the RCV package.

Together, the renewals reinforce Honda’s two-pronged approach: Marini’s continued development work within the factory structure and Zarco’s factory-backed role at LCR, both focused on accelerating the RC213V’s evolution and returning Honda to the front of MotoGP.

Luca Marini
“I am very happy to make this announcement and remain with Honda HRC. We have just been working on a few final details, both HRC’s management and myself have been aligned on the future for quite a while. I am completely invested in this project and determined to help Honda return to the front in the MotoGP World Championship. Since joining the team in 2024, we have continued to improve and work together in an ever-improving way. Working with a factory, and especially a factory like Honda HRC, gives you huge motivation as a rider. We have had a good season so far and the focus remains to continue improving until the very last lap in Valencia.”

Taichi Honda, HRC General Manager
“We are happy to continue with Luca for another year, he has shown a high level of professionalism and dedication throughout. Luca has earned himself a reputation as an analytical rider and an incredibly hard worker, a valuable asset to any MotoGP project. Luca’s feedback is clear and precise and has been very useful for Honda HRC’s engineers in continuing the development of the Honda RC213V over the past season and a half.”

Johann Zarco – CASTROL Honda LCR rider
“I’m very pleased to confirm that I will stay with LCR for the next two years. This is important because we have big goals to achieve and great opportunities looking ahead to 2027. When I signed with Honda at the end of 2023, I didn’t expect to find that second wind, which gave me the energy to secure another two-year contract with them. We already achieved one victory with Lucio and the team, and it would be fantastic to experience that again, so we are determined to keep pushing for strong results. Over the past two years, Honda has provided LCR with great support, and we believe we can continue growing and developing the bike through our hard work. I’d like to thank HRC, LCR, and everybody supporting us.”

Lucio Cecchinello – CASTROL Honda LCR Team Principal
“Working with Johann is simply extraordinary; his professionalism is impeccable both on and off the track. We are pleased that HRC has renewed its trust in him for the next two years, and we are confident that his contribution to the development of the RCV in 2026 and 2027 will be crucial in our mission to bring Honda back to the top of the rankings. We are also proud to have been confirmed as a trusted partner of HRC in managing Johann and to continue being part of the Honda family.”