In the mid-2025 season, the two French riders in the MotoGP championship, Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco, are experiencing contrasting trajectories. One remains the flagship figure of a Yamaha project mired in uncertainty, while the other grapples with challenges at Honda. This is the situation.
Fabio Quartararo surprised many by extending his contract with Yamaha until the end of 2026. Despite a motorcycle considered to be trailing behind the competition, the Frenchman decided to continue his journey with the Japanese manufacturer. This loyalty, both strategic and sentimental, still raises questions as the 2025 season reaches its midpoint.
The start of the year for Fabio Quartararo remains solid. He has secured four pole positions and scored 102 points in twelve races, almost as many as during the entire previous season. He is currently in 9th place in the overall standings. He is clearly ahead of his teammate, Alex Rins, who is 18th with 42 points, proving that he manages to get the most out of his Yamaha.
But this good start remains mixed. Despite concrete opportunities, the Nice-born rider has not yet won a race this season. At Jerez, he lost in a favorable context. At Le Mans, he fell after a promising pole position. At Silverstone, he was leading before a mechanical problem dashed his hopes. And at Assen, he couldn’t keep up with the pace of the leaders. Each time, the opportunities slip away.
There is an impression of a rider capable of shining in qualifications, but struggling to convert advantageous positions into significant results. The contrast with 2023 is striking: fewer podiums, but more consistency in the upper ranks. The problem seems to stem less from the rider than the motorcycle, still hampered by an evident engine deficit during races.
Fabio Quartararo himself questions the future. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper AS, he states: “In the future, I don’t want a project, but rather a ready-to-race bike”. This statement carries weight, suggesting a sense of weariness with a reconstruction program that has yet to yield results.
Zarco, Between Tenacity and Uncertainty at Honda
On his part, Johann Zarco is experiencing a season of ups and downs. Still with Honda, within the LCR team, he maintains a position in the top 10 of the championship. With a victory at Le Mans and a second place at Silverstone, he continues to demonstrate his ability to capitalize on rare favorable moments. He is currently in 8th place in the overall standings.
His consistency is nevertheless challenged by technical limitations. At Brno, a poor tire choice proved costly. The Honda RC213V, despite progress early in the year, seems to have stopped evolving over several races. Johann Zarco himself recognizes this standstill: “We made a step forward initially, but we’ve been stagnating since then. Honda needs to react quickly.”
The summer will be anything but relaxing for the Frenchman, who is involved in the 8 Hours of Suzuka. He knows that this period will be crucial, both technically and physically. He will have to manage his energy while staying competitive, waiting for concrete signs of a rebound from Honda.
Regarding the future, recent information suggests a contract extension for the Cannes-born rider with LCR until the end of 2026. This would rule out any move to the official team, where Luca Marini seems set to continue. Joan Mir, more assertive in recent weeks, appears to have scored points with management. Johann Zarco, despite his experience and commitment, would thus remain in a secondary role.
The renewal of Luca Marini for an additional season reinforces this hypothesis. However, the situation of his current teammate, Somkiat Chantra, could change. Rumors indicate an interest in Diogo Moreira for 2026.
A Tense Second Half of the Season
For Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco, the second part of the 2025 season promises to be crucial. The Yamaha rider will revisit circuits where he has often performed well, such as Misano, Sepang, or Mandalika. These are all places that could validate his decision to remain loyal to the Japanese brand.
But to convince, he will have to turn good qualifications into tangible results. The Yamaha project, despite the announcement of a V4 engine in development, remains unclear. With the regulatory change deadline in 2027, many are questioning the relevance of such an investment.
Johann Zarco, meanwhile, will continue to struggle with a challenging motorcycle. His chances of moving up seem now limited. Yet, he remains one of the few capable of extracting performance from a struggling Honda. The future will depend on the machine’s evolution, but also on his ability to maintain his level despite the pressure.
With this summer break, the two French riders are not lacking in motivation or experience. But both face the harsh reality of MotoGP: without a competitive motorcycle, talent is not always enough.
