The 2023 MotoGP World Championship season will undoubtedly linger in Johann Zarco’s memory. Not only did he close a chapter with Ducati and Prima Pramac Racing, but he also clinched his first-ever win in the premier class.
The initial stages of the season were promising for the experienced Frenchman: fourth place in Portugal, second in Argentina, and seventh in Austin, hinting at a consistent year. The retirement in the Spanish GP was one of the few setbacks, but it was followed by a sequence of three consecutive third-place finishes starting with the home round at Le Mans.
That was Zarco’s best period of the season, where he only made the top three two more times until the end. Despite being distant from the form of his teammate Jorge Martín – who fought for the championship – Zarco presented enough consistency to be in contention for the top five in the World Championship. Sprint races were one of his weaknesses: he scored in only 11 out of 19.
One of Zarco’s challenging moments happened during practice for the German MotoGP, where a spectacular collision with Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) occurred at the pit lane exit. It was one of the most alarming accidents of 2023, but #5 emerged from it without major injuries.
The announcement of Zarco’s departure from Pramac surfaced during the Austrian GP weekend – curiously, where he had his worst result except for retirements, finishing 13th in the main race. Days later, it was announced that he would join LCR Honda for 2024.
Zarco appeared somewhat inconsistent on the Asian leg of the calendar, reaching the top ten only three times. One of these occasions was the highlight of his career so far, with a historic victory at the Australian GP, fiercely fought until the end, where he outpaced now two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati). This victory proved crucial for his fifth-place finish in the championship, arriving at Phillip Island in seventh.
Reflecting on the emotions felt in the post-race press conference, Zarco stated: ‘It’s a quite good feeling. Because you always push and try to catch it, but sometimes you say: «There are some other riders who got the pace, who got this feeling». As long as you don’t catch it, it seems you cannot win’.
Despite the win, the Frenchman faced some challenges in the following races, losing the battle for fourth place against Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM). Zarco’s farewell from Pramac and Ducati ended with a gratifying second place at the Valencia GP, after an interesting fight with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini/Ducati) – where a victory seemed possible. It was a satisfactory ending to his tenure with Pramac, and in a press conference, Zarco said: ‘Podium in the final round. It’s also a way to confirm this fifth position in the championship. […]. I’m so happy to conclude the story with Pramac this way’.
A chapter closes for Zarco with Pramac and Ducati – the current leading bike in the pack. Ahead lies the unknown project of LCR Honda, where he must contribute to the development of one of the least competitive bikes on the grid. Matching or improving the fifth place from 2023 will be challenging, but what no one can take away from him is his best season to date: a final top-five placement, first win, and a total of six podiums.
Johann Zarco’s 2023 season:
Portuguese GP: 8th Sprint/4th GP – 4th in the championship
Argentine GP: 12th Sprint/2nd GP – 3rd in the championship
Americas GP: 11th Sprint/7th GP – 5th in the championship
Spanish GP: 8th Sprint/DNF GP – 9th in the championship
French GP: 6th Sprint/3rd GP – 5th in the championship
Italian GP: 4th Sprint/3rd GP – 5th in the championship
German GP: 5th Sprint/3rd GP – 4th in the championship
Dutch TT: 13th Sprint/DNF GP – 5th in the championship
British GP: 4th Sprint/9th GP – 5th in the championship
Austrian GP: DNF Sprint/13th GP – 5th in the championship
Catalunya GP: 7th Sprint/4th GP – 6th in the championship
San Marino GP: 14th Sprint/10th GP – 6th in the championship
Indian GP: DNF Sprint/6th GP – 6th in the championship
Japanese GP: 5th Sprint/NC GP – 6th in the championship
Indonesian GP: 12th Sprint/DNF GP – 7th in the championship
Australian GP: 1st GP (no Sprint race) – 5th in the championship
Thai GP: 9th Sprint/10th GP – 6th in the championship
Malaysian GP: 8th Sprint/12th GP – 5th in the championship
Qatar GP: 10th Sprint/12th GP – 5th in the championship
Valencia GP: 9th Sprint/2nd GP – 5th in the championship