Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco completed the three-day pre-season Sepang Test last week on a positive note despite finishing 15th on the final day with a best lap of 1’57.601 on Thursday.
After facing early challenges during the test, the French rider and his crew made steady progress as the sessions continued. Zarco described Thursday’s running as particularly productive, highlighting the team’s ability to address initial issues and improve performance.
“We had an intense afternoon today. We rode non-stop, and the feeling was good. Overall, I struggled at the beginning of the test, but we managed to solve the issues and finish in a good way,” he said.
Zarco completed a total of 151 laps over the three days, logging 60 laps on Tuesday, 33 on Wednesday, and 58 on Thursday, underlining Honda LCR’s strong focus on data collection and bike development ahead of the new season.
He noted that consistency had improved in the latter stages of the test, even as tyre degradation remained a challenge.
“Since yesterday, we’ve been more consistent, and that’s important. We struggled a bit with tyre drop, but it was the same for everyone,” he added.
The experienced rider believes recent updates have enhanced the bike’s overall performance, giving him confidence ahead of the upcoming Buriram Test in Thailand, which will be the final major pre-season outing before the championship begins.
“The bike has improved, and now we’re just trying to find the right balance. Let’s keep working like this,” Zarco said.
With valuable mileage completed and encouraging signs of progress, Zarco and the Honda LCR team will now aim to refine their package further as they continue preparations for the 2026 MotoGP season.
