Johann Zarco’s recent success, as Honda’s top performer in MotoGP, starkly exposes the struggles of his LCR team-mate, Somkiat Chantra. The latter was promoted to the premier class by the Japanese manufacturer after Ai Ogura unexpectedly broke his Honda ties to take up an Aprilia MotoGP ride for this season.
The oldest rider on the MotoGP grid is currently enjoying a youthful resurgence. Last month Zarco claimed a brilliant victory at Le Mans in front of an adoring home crowd, and came within reach of another win just two weeks later at Silverstone, finishing second, just four seconds behind Marco Bezzecchi. These performances have catapulted him to fifth in the championship standings, making him the highest-ranked rider not on a Ducati.
