Johann Zarco

Johann Zarco
Zarco at the 2022 San Marino Grand Prix
Nationality	French
Born	(1990-07-16) 16 July 1990 (age 33) Cannes, France
Current team	Castrol Honda LCR
Bike number	5
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2017– Manufacturers Yamaha (2017–2018) KTM (2019) Honda (2019, 2024–) Ducati (2020–2023) Championships 0 2023 championship position 5th (225 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 126 1 21 8 11 1008 Moto2 World Championship Active years 2012–2016 Manufacturers Motobi (2012) Suter (2013) Caterham Suter (2014) Kalex (2015–2016) Championships 2 (2015, 2016) 2016 championship position 1st (276 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 88 15 30 15 7 1010 125cc World Championship Active years 2009–2011 Manufacturers Aprilia (2009–2010) Derbi (2011) Championships 0 2011 championship position 2nd (262 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 50 1 11 4 5 371.5

Johann Zarco (born 16 July 1990) is a French Grand Prix motorcycle racer, best known for winning the 2015 and 2016 Moto2 World Championships with his 2015 triumph being a record points total for the intermediate class. ^[1] He is a MotoGP race winner, and currently rides for Castrol Honda LCR in MotoGP.

Zarco is also a former runner-up and race winner in 125 cc class (now converted to Moto3) in 2011. And won the rookie and top independent rider of the year in MotoGP in 2017 with Monster Yamaha Tech3 finishing 6th with 3 podiums and 2 Pole Positions. With 17 Grand Prix victories across all classes and two Moto2 championships, Zarco is one of the most successful French riders in Grand Prix racing history. ^[2]

Career

Early career

Born in Cannes, Zarco progressed up the motorcycling ladder and moved into minimoto championships in 2004, mainly based in Italy. In 2005, Zarco finished as runner-up in the Senior Mini European Championship and in 2006, he was runner-up in the European Open Championship. He also competed in the Italian 125cc championship, where he finished in twelfth place. Zarco took part in the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2007, ^[3] and won the championship at Estoril, after winning three races. ^[4] He added a fourth win at the final race in Valencia. These performances enabled Zarco to become part of the Red Bull MotoGP Academy scheme along with Cameron Beaubier, Jonas Folger and Danny Kent. ^[5] This reduced his racing in 2008, making a sporadic appearance in the Italian championship with Team Gabrielli.

125cc World Championship

WTR San Marino (2009–2010)

Zarco made his Grand Prix début with the WTR San Marino Team, in the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix. He finished the race in the points in 15th, although the rain-shortened race meant that Zarco gained just half a point. ^[6] He took seven further points-scoring finishes, as he finished 20th in the championship. Zarco's best result of the season was a sixth-place finish at Mugello.

Zarco remained with WTR for the 2010 season. ^[7] Zarco started the season with a consistent run of points-scoring finishes, finishing each of the first eight races in the points. At the Czech Grand Prix, Zarco recorded the first fastest lap of his career, having pitted for slick tyres as the track's conditions became better for them to be run. He ultimately finished eleventh in the championship, despite retiring from the final three races.

Ajo Motorsport (2011)

For 2011 he signed with Ajo Motorsport. At the second race, the Spanish Grand Prix, he gained his first podium finish by finishing third.

Moto2 World Championship

JiR Team (2012)

Zarco moved up to the Moto2 class with the JiR team, aboard Motobi bikes in 2012. He finished the season 10th in the standings with 95 points and was easily the highest placed rookie that year.

Ioda Project Racing Team (2013)

In 2013, he moved to the Ioda Project Racing Team aboard a Suter, he improved on his rookie season by finishing on the podium twice and ended 9th on the standings with 141 points.

Caterham Moto Racing Team (2014)

Zarco at the 2014 French Grand Prix

For 2014, he joined the new Caterham Moto Racing team. He impressed on what many considered to be an inferior bike compared to the mainly dominant Kalex bikes. He managed to earn 4 podium finishes, as well as 1 pole position, earning him 6th in the standings with 146 points.

Ajo Motorsport (2015–2016)

Zarco at the 2015 Catalan Grand Prix

In 2015, Zarco moved to the debuting Ajo Motorsport team, who he raced with in the 125cc class. Zarco dominated the field and won his first Moto2 title, ^[1] with 8 wins, 14 podiums, 7 poles and a record points haul of 352.

He remained with the team for 2016 and successfully defended his Moto2 title, becoming the first rider in the Moto2 era to win 2 intermediate titles, with 7 wins, 10 podiums, 7 poles and 276 points. Zarco became a popular figure with the fans with his spectacular backflip celebrations when he won a race. During the 2016 season, Zarco got his first taste of MotoGP machinery, testing the Suzuki GSX-RR with Suzuki Ecstar in a private test at track in Ruyo, Japan. ^[8]

MotoGP World Championship

Team Suzuki Ecstar (testing 2016)

In 2016 Suzuki Team had a pre-contract with Zarco before the recruitment for 2017 was carried out. Zarco tested with Suzuki in a private test at the Suzuka Circuit, Japan. Unfortunately, Suzuki prefers Alex Rins to replace Aleix Espargaro. Meanwhile, for the other seats, Suzuki chose Andrea Iannone as a replacement for Maverick Vinales. ^[9]

Monster Yamaha Tech3 (2017–2018)

2017

Zarco at the 2017 Qatar Grand Prix

For 2017, Zarco moved up to the premier class with the Tech3 Yamaha team. On his MotoGP debut at Qatar, Zarco shocked the grid by taking the lead on the first lap and building a 2-second lead, until he crashed out at turn 2 on lap 6. He scored his first MotoGP podium, a 2nd place, at Le Mans. He got his first pole position at Assen. In the race he touched with Rossi and dropped to 4th, and eventually finished in 14th place. Zarco again started from pole at the Japanese Grand Prix, but ultimately finished the race in 8th place. He achieved podium finishes in Sepang (Malaysia) and Valencia (Spain) where he finished in 3rd and 2nd respectively. He received the Rookie of the Year Award for 2017 and finished the season in 6th, the highest placed independent rider. ^[10]

Zarco at the 2017 French Grand Prix

2018

In 2018, Zarco started the season with a pole position in Qatar, before dropping to finish 8th. He finished 2nd in the Argentinian and Spanish Grands Prix, and achieved another pole position at his home French Grand Prix before crashing out of the race. In Malaysia he repeated his 3rd place podium finish from the previous year, and again finished 6th in the rider's championship standings.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (early 2019)

In early 2018 it was announced that Zarco would ride for the factory KTM team on a two-year contract from 2019. ^[11] Following a difficult start to 2019 season where he struggled, managing barely to finish within the points-scoring positions, Zarco and KTM made the shock announcement at their home Austrian Grand Prix that they had reached a mutual agreement to end Zarco's contract prematurely at the end of the season. ^[12] Despite initial intentions to complete the season with Zarco, KTM elected to release him unconditionally two races later after the Misano Grand Prix and replace him with test rider Mika Kallio for the remainder of the season, citing "lost hope" in the situation with Zarco's "negative attitude" before his impending departure. ^[13]

LCR Honda (late 2019)

Zarco was offered a Honda for the last three races of the 2019 season due to regular rider Takaaki Nakagami electing to have surgery with an expected long recuperation period. ^[14] He finished the first event in 13th place, and was knocked off by Joan Mir nearing the end of the second event when in 8th place. ^{[15] [16]} Zarco fell during his third race on the Honda when in 10th position at Valencia, Spain, being hit when walking away by a following machine, without serious injury. ^[17]

Avintia Esponsorama Racing (2020)

For the 2020 season, the Frenchman signed a one-year deal through Ducati to ride for Esponsorama Racing. ^{[18] [19]} During the Czech Grand Prix in Brno, Zarco took Esponsorama's first ever pole position, followed up with a podium finish in 3rd a day later. Consistently finishing within the points, Zarco ended the season in 13th position of the riders' standings.

Pramac Racing (2021–2023)

2021

Zarco signed a deal with Pramac Racing in September 2020 for the 2021 season. ^[20] Zarco had a strong season in 2021 including career highs in podiums and the highest points total of any of his seasons in MotoGP. He ultimately finished fifth in the championship.

2022

Zarco remained with Pramac Racing for 2022. ^[21] Zarco claimed four podiums, and ended eighth in the standings.

2023

Pramac Racing retained Zarco for a third successive year in 2023. In Australia, Zarco won his first race in MotoGP, overtaking teammate Jorge Martin on the final lap ^[22]

Return to LCR Honda (2024–)

On 21 August 2023, Zarco announced that he would leave Pramac Racing after spending three seasons with the team. ^[23] He is set to move to LCR Honda for the 2024 season, replacing Yamaha-bound Álex Rins. ^[24] The likely reason of moving ship to Honda was Ducati only intending to give Zarco a one-year contract before moving him to the Superbike World Championship in 2025, whereas LCR Honda were offering a two-year deal. ^[25] LCR Honda then officially confirmed the next day that Zarco would be joining the team in 2024. ^[26]

Career statistics

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Pos	Pts
2007	SPA 3	ITA 1	GBR 2	NED 13	GER 2	CZE 1	POR 1	VAL 1	1st	159

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

Season	Class	Motorcycle	Team	Race	Win	Podium	Pole	FLap	Pts	Plcd	WCh
2009	125cc	Aprilia	WTR San Marino Team	16	0	0	0	0	32.5	20th	–
2010	125cc	Aprilia	WTR San Marino Team	17	0	0	0	1	77	11th	–
2011	125cc	Derbi	Avant-AirAsia-Ajo	17	1	11	4	4	262	2nd	–
2012	Moto2	Motobi	JiR Moto2	17	0	0	0	0	95	10th	–
2013	Moto2	Suter	Came IodaRacing Project	17	0	2	0	2	141	9th	–
2014	Moto2	Caterham Suter	AirAsia Caterham	18	0	4	1	0	146	6th	–
2015	Moto2	Kalex	Ajo Motorsport	18	8	14	7	1	352	1st	1
2016	Moto2	Kalex	Ajo Motorsport	18	7	10	7	4	276	1st	1
2017	MotoGP	Yamaha	Monster Yamaha Tech3	18	0	3	2	4	174	6th	–
2018	MotoGP	Yamaha	Monster Yamaha Tech3	18	0	3	2	0	158	6th	–
2019	MotoGP	KTM	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	13	0	0	0	0	27	18th	–
		Honda	LCR Honda Idemitsu	3	0	0	0	0	3
2020	MotoGP	Ducati	Avintia Esponsorama Racing	14	0	1	1	1	77	13th	–
2021	MotoGP	Ducati	Pramac Racing	18	0	4	1	2	173	5th	–
2022	MotoGP	Ducati	Pramac Racing	20	0	4	2	2	166	8th	–
2023	MotoGP	Ducati	Prima Pramac Racing	20	1	6	0	2	225	5th	–
2024	MotoGP	Honda	Castrol Honda LCR	2	0	0	0	0	5	17th	–
Total				264	17	62	27	23	2389.5		2

By class

Class	Seasons	1st GP	1st Pod	1st Win	Race	Win	Podiums	Pole	FLap	Pts	WChmp
125cc	2009–2011	2009 Qatar	2011 Spain	2011 Japan	50	1	11	4	5	371.5	0
Moto2	2012–2016	2012 Qatar	2013 Italy	2015 Argentina	88	15	30	15	7	1010	2
MotoGP	2017–present	2017 Qatar	2017 France	2023 Australia	126	1	21	8	11	1008	0
Total	2009–present				264	17	62	27	23	2389.5	2

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Class	Bike	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	Pos	Pts
2009	125cc	Aprilia	QAT 15	JPN Ret	SPA 13	FRA Ret	ITA 6	CAT 13	NED 21	GER 23	GBR 13	CZE 11	INP 23	RSM 16	POR 9	AUS 16	MAL Ret	VAL 15						20th	32.5
2010	125cc	Aprilia	QAT 12	SPA 7	FRA 11	ITA 9	GBR 8	NED 12	CAT 8	GER 6	CZE 19	INP 13	RSM 12	ARA 12	JPN 10	MAL 11	AUS Ret	POR Ret	VAL Ret					11th	77
2011	125cc	Derbi	QAT 6	SPA 3	POR 3	FRA 5	CAT 6	GBR 2	NED 5	ITA 2	GER 2	CZE 2	INP 5	RSM 2	ARA 2	JPN 1	AUS 3	MAL 3	VAL Ret					2nd	262
2012	Moto2	Motobi	QAT 12	SPA 10	POR 4	FRA Ret	CAT 11	GBR Ret	NED 8	GER 11	ITA 10	INP 12	CZE 7	RSM 10	ARA 6	JPN 8	MAL Ret	AUS 5	VAL Ret					10th	95
2013	Moto2	Suter	QAT 12	AME 6	SPA 12	FRA 5	ITA 3	CAT 7	NED 6	GER 11	INP 8	CZE 5	GBR 7	RSM 7	ARA 7	MAL 6	AUS Ret	JPN Ret	VAL 3					9th	141
2014	Moto2	Caterham Suter	QAT 23	AME Ret	ARG 18	SPA 8	FRA Ret	ITA 7	CAT 3	NED 4	GER Ret	INP 10	CZE 9	GBR 4	RSM 3	ARA 3	JPN 4	AUS Ret	MAL 4	VAL 3				6th	146
2015	Moto2	Kalex	QAT 8	AME 2	ARG 1	SPA 2	FRA 3	ITA 2	CAT 1	NED 1	GER 2	INP 2	CZE 1	GBR 1	RSM 1	ARA 6	JPN 1	AUS 7	MAL 1	VAL 7				1st	352
2016	Moto2	Kalex	QAT 12	ARG 1	AME 3	SPA 5	FRA 24	ITA 1	CAT 1	NED 2	GER 1	AUT 1	CZE 11	GBR 22	RSM 4	ARA 8	JPN 2	AUS 12	MAL 1	VAL 1				1st	276
2017	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT Ret	ARG 5	AME 5	SPA 4	FRA 2	ITA 7	CAT 5	NED 14	GER 9	CZE 12	AUT 5	GBR 6	RSM 15	ARA 9	JPN 8	AUS 4	MAL 3	VAL 2				6th	174
2018	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT 8	ARG 2	AME 6	SPA 2	FRA Ret	ITA 10	CAT 7	NED 8	GER 9	CZE 7	AUT 9	GBR C	RSM 10	ARA 14	THA 5	JPN 6	AUS Ret	MAL 3	VAL 7			6th	158
2019	MotoGP	KTM	QAT 15	ARG 15	AME 13	SPA 14	FRA 13	ITA 17	CAT 10	NED Ret	GER Ret	CZE 14	AUT 12	GBR Ret	RSM 11	ARA	THA	JPN						18th	30
		Honda																	AUS 13	MAL Ret	VAL Ret
2020	MotoGP	Ducati	SPA 11	ANC 9	CZE 3	AUT Ret	STY 14	RSM 15	EMI 11	CAT Ret	FRA 5	ARA 10	TER 5	EUR 9	VAL Ret	POR 10								13th	77
2021	MotoGP	Ducati	QAT 2	DOH 2	POR Ret	SPA 8	FRA 2	ITA 4	CAT 2	GER 8	NED 4	STY 6	AUT Ret	GBR 11	ARA 17	RSM 12	AME Ret	EMI 5	ALR 5	VAL 6				5th	173
2022	MotoGP	Ducati	QAT 8	INA 3	ARG Ret	AME 9	POR 2	SPA Ret	FRA 5	ITA 4	CAT 3	GER 2	NED 13	GBR Ret	AUT 5	RSM Ret	ARA 8	JPN 11	THA 4	AUS 8	MAL 9	VAL Ret		8th	166
2023	MotoGP	Ducati	POR 48	ARG 2	AME 7	SPA Ret8	FRA 36	ITA 34	GER 35	NED Ret	GBR 94	AUT 13	CAT 47	RSM 10	IND 6	JPN NC5	INA Ret	AUS 1	THA 109	MAL 128	QAT 12	VAL 29		5th	225
2024	MotoGP	Honda	QAT 12	POR 15	AME	SPA	FRA	CAT	ITA	KAZ	NED	GER	GBR	AUT	CAT	RSM	IND	INA	JPN	AUS	THA	MAL	VAL	17th*	5*

* Season still in progress.

References

1. "Triumphant Johann Zarco lifts Moto2 world title". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
2. "Pedrosa gagne une course, Rossi des points et Zarco un titre" [Pedrosa wins the race, points to Rossi and Zarco the title]. Libération (in French). SARL Libération. Agence France-Presse. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015. A cette occasion, avec huit succès dans toute sa carrière, il efface des tablettes de la vitesse française ses glorieux aînés, Christian Sarron, Olivier Jacque et Arnaud Vincent, tous trois champions du monde également dans les années 80 et 2000. [On this occasion, with eight wins in his career, he moves ahead of the previous tallies of the French former riders, Christian Sarron, Olivier Jacque and Arnaud Vincent, all three world champions between 1980 and 2000.]
3. "Portrait – Johann Zarco". Red Bull MotoGP Rookie Cup . Red Bull. 22 June 2007. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
4. "Zarco takes win and championship!". Red Bull MotoGP Rookie Cup . Red Bull. 15 September 2007. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
5. "Red Bull MotoGP Academy 2008 line-up announced". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
6. "Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar: 125cc Race Classification" (PDF). motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
7. "WTR San Marino Team presents its 2010 line-up". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
8. Rowles, Aaron (16 June 2016). "Zarco gets first taste of MotoGP machine with Suzuki". GPxtra. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
9. "Rarely do you know, Johann Zarco has also ridden a Suzuki MotoGP motorbike". www.gridoto.com. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
10. "Goodbye 2017: FIM Awards Ceremony closes the MotoGP season". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
11. Khorounzhiy, Valentin; Klein, Jamie (18 May 2018). "Johann Zarco signs KTM MotoGP deal for 2019". Autosport.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
12. McLaren, Peter (12 August 2019). "Johann Zarco to leave KTM!". Crash.net. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
13. Khorounzhiy, Valentin; Garcia Casanova, Germán (21 September 2019). "KTM 'lost hope' with Zarco's negativity over its MotoGP bike". Autosport.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
14. "Zarco to replace Nakagami for final three rounds of 2019". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
15. Mir deems Zarco crash penalty ‘unfair’ bikesportnews.com, 4 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019
16. Joan Mir penalised for Johann Zarco collision 'because I am a rookie' visordown.com, 4 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019
17. Duncan, Lewis; Gruz, David (18 November 2019). "Zarco thought he'd broken ankle when hit by Lecuona's crashing bike". Autosport.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
18. "Johann Zarco, new rider of the Reale Avintia Racing Team". Ducati.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
19. Duncan, Lewis (9 December 2019). "Johann Zarco's 2020 move to Avintia MotoGP finally announced". Autosport.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
20. Bagnaia joins works Ducati team, Zarco makes Pramac switch motorsport.com, 30 September 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2021
21. "Johann Zarco to stay on with Pramac for 2022". The Times of India . 3 June 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
22. "Martin and Zarco confirmed as Prima Pramac riders for 2023". MotoGP . 26 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
23. "Prima Pramac confirm Zarco's exit at the end of 2023". MotoGP . 20 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
24. Duncan, Lewis (20 August 2023). "Zarco to leave Pramac, confirms Honda MotoGP move with LCR for 2024". Motorsport.com . Retrieved 21 August 2023.
25. "Zarco explains swapping MotoGP's best bike for its worst". The Race. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
26. White, Megan (22 August 2023). "Zarco joins LCR Honda for 2024 MotoGP season after Ducati departure". Motorsport.com . Retrieved 22 August 2023.

External links

• Johann Zarco at MotoGP.com
• Johann Zarco at AS.com (in Spanish)
• Official website (in French)

Sporting positions
Preceded by Inaugural champion	Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup champion 2007	Succeeded by J. D. Beach