Johann Zarco has paid tribute to whღat Marc Marquez was able to achieve with last year’s Honda.

Zarco has unveiled his LCR Honda having switched from Pramac Duc🅺ati last season💃.

But after testing the ‘23 Honda, the worst bike on the grid wh♊ich caused Marquez and co countless problems, he is left amazed by what the eight-time champion was able to do.

“I am so impresse🐓d with what Marc did with this bike,” Zarco said.

“He was the only one able to be in front.

“Even if he was crashing or could n⛦ot finish the races well, he🎐 was always able to be fast.

“For me, it was impossible to do on the old bike.

“I ha🍸ve got this new bike. I’m playing with i𝓰t, and that’s great.”

Zarco’s optimism comes from the 2024-spec Honda which he says is seven-tenths faster🔥 than a year ago.

“For me, yes. 🔥At least. So that’s great,” he said.

“It’s a pleasure to start a new chapter.

“The experience with the Ducati bike was amazing.

“I got, at least, one victory!

“But it seems the story with Ducati was written.

“It was nice to 💝take a new challenge, a risky challenge clearly.

“F🎶rom the moment I signed last August, I was not signing for the ⭕best bike.

“It wi🐷ll be tough to fight in front, and tough to accept to be far back in the classification.

“Ultimately, with t♛he new bike, it seems that this won’t be th✱e situation in the 2024 season.

“For this reason I am so happy.

“It’s a chance for me to write a new chapter, to get a new experience, to give good comments to H🔥onda.

“If we do a good job li🍒ke this, we fight for some pod🦄iums, that would be amazing.

“Why not? I want to keep on racing in MotoGP.”

Zarco’s arrival as a MotoGP veteran is in place of Alexꦓ Rins at LCR Honda.

But the notable change at the Japanese manufacturer is Mar൩quez’s absence.

They have the opportunity to fi🌌ght back with new concessions advantages and they hope that Zarco’s experience of developing bikes can aid them.

“Sure. They are changing the ℱway of thinking,” Z🅘arco said.

“The factory team will use the LCR team.

“We will hౠave four factory bikes, as Ducati has been doin🌄g with the factory team and Pramac.

“I ܫarrive at a good time to enjoy the benefit of it.

The bike is really new💖 but already developing well.

“I need to trust that we can do it.

“I hope that I’m at the b𝓰eginni✅ng of the development of a project.

ꦗ“After the test in Valencia I went into the winter with high motivation that the project would work.

“Now,๊ after the test in Malaysia, it is confirmation of the feeling I got in November.

“It brings confidence. You feel quieter, more calm, better serenit🐷y to go to a race weekend.”

His goal in 2024: “To be the top Honda woul𒅌d be good.

“Buildi𒉰ng results to stay in the top 10 would be good consistency for the work that we need to do.

“If I am the top Honda rider, it would be great.

Naturally you compare yoursꦫelf with the same bike.

“To lead the ot﷽⛎her Hondas, it’s an advantage to develop the bike in my way.”

Zarco, aged 33, was finally able to wi♊n his first MotoGP race last season at Phillip𒊎 Island.

He finished fifth in🏅 the standings, a career-best result.

But his challenge this year will be aဣltogether different after leaving behind the factory Ducati bike, which was used by both Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin in the ‘23 title battle.