Johann Zarco arrived at LCR Honda this year with the clear mission of helping the Japanese manufacturer make progress, considering it has one of the least competitive bikes in the field. And, despite the changes already made, there is still more work to be done, and more deeply.
After the French GP, the rider was asked about the new swingarm and, in response, explained that it won’t make a significant difference: ‘That won’t change much. At this moment, when everything is working, you can play with this swingarm. Right now it’s just to get more information, how we can manage the grip‘.
According to Zarco, Honda needs to change the very base of the bike to make decisive progress: ‘But there is a bigger problem that we lack the base of the bike, in the heart of the bike. I mean, the heart of the bike is the engine, I’m not referring to the engine; I’m referring to the pure “DNA” of the bike – this has to change to give us a second wind‘.
After five Grand Prix races, Zarco is in 19th place with nine points, just behind the best Honda rider who is Joan Mir (Repsol Honda). Honda is last in the Constructors’ Championship, also at the bottom of the Teams’ Championship.
