Zarco: Marquez Would Be a Top-Five Rider on Today’s Honda MotoGP Bike

Marc Marquez completed one of the most remarkable career revivals in MotoGP history by claiming the 2025 world championship with Ducati, returning to a level of dominance last seen during his peak years at Honda.

After winning six MotoGP titles with Honda between 2013 and 2019, Marquez’s career was derailed by a serious crash at Jerez in 2020. A succession of injuries and Honda’s gradual decline eventually led him to leave the manufacturer and join Ducati’s satellite Gresini team in 2024.

One year later, Marquez stepped up to Ducati’s factory squad, a move that immediately paid off. He dominated the 2025 season with 25 victories across Grands Prix and Sprint races, sealing his seventh MotoGP title with four rounds remaining.

Source: RoadRacing World

While Ducati continued to set the benchmark, Honda quietly made progress throughout the 2025 campaign. Johann Zarco spearheaded that resurgence by delivering the manufacturer’s first victory since 2023, producing a standout performance at a rain-affected French Grand Prix at Le Mans, where he climbed from 17th on the grid to win for LCR Honda.

Zarco added another strong result with second place at Silverstone, although consistency proved difficult in the latter half of the season. Honda’s momentum nevertheless continued, with Joan Mir securing two podium finishes after the summer break.

Heading into 2026, Honda will benefit from C-rank concessions as it continues rebuilding its MotoGP project. Zarco believes the bike’s current level is already strong enough that a rider of Marquez’s calibre would be fighting near the front.

“If I start as well as I did in 2025, I’ll be very happy,” Zarco said. “Then I want to maintain that pace and stay in the top ten.

“From what I see of the bike, I feel I could even be in the top five. I tell myself that if Marquez were on the Honda, he would be in the top five. So why not us?”

Source: Honda Racing

Zarco added that while he narrowly missed his top-ten target in the final standings due to several missed races, the overall progress gives him confidence heading into 2026, where he hopes to fight more consistently for podiums.

Marquez’s continued success with Ducati has also fuelled speculation about a potential return to Honda, particularly with new MotoGP regulations arriving in 2027. His Ducati contract expires at the end of 2026, making him one of the most sought-after riders on the grid.

However, Marquez has made it clear that competitiveness remains his priority. While Honda’s progress caught his attention, Ducati currently possesses the strongest package. Reports suggest Marquez has already committed to a new Ducati deal running through 2028, expected to be confirmed around the season-opening Thai Grand Prix.

That decision leaves Honda searching elsewhere as it plans its long-term return to the front, with Marquez now serving as both a reminder of its past dominance and the standard it aims to reach once again.