Johann Zarco has paid tribute to what Marc Mar𒈔quez was able to achieღve with last year’s Honda.

Zarco has unveiled his LCR Honda ♉hav🌳ing switched from Pramac Ducati last season.

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

“🐷I am so impressed with what Marc did wi🌜th this bike,” Zarco said.

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

“Even if h📖e was crashing or could not finish the races wellꦆ, he was always able to be fast.

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

“I have🍸 got this new bike. I’m playing with🍌 it, 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 m🦹e, 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 tak🌃e a new challeng🔴e, a risky challenge clearly.

“From the moment I 🦄signed last August, I was not signing for the best bike.

“It will be tough to fight in front, and 🧜tough to accept to be far back in the classification.

“Ultimately, with the new bike, it seems that this won’t be the situation in the 2024 seཧason.

“For this reason I am so happy.

“It’s a chance for me to write a new ch⭕apter, to get a new experience, to give𒀰 good comments to Honda.

“If we do a good job like this, we fight f𝕴or some podiums, 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 Alex Rins at LCR Hondꦏa.

But the notable change at th🐻e Japa꧅nese manufacturer is Marquez’s absence.

They have the opportunity to fight❀ back with new concessions advantages and they hope that꧑ Zarco’s experience of developing bikes can aid them.

“Sure. They 🐟are changing the way of thinking,” Zarco said.

“The factory team will use the LCR team.

“We will have four factory bikes, as Ducati has🦹 been doing with the factory team and Pramac.

“I arrive at a gooꩲd time to enjoy the bene🔴fit 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✅ beginning of the develop🅘ment of a project.

“After the testಞ 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 feel𝓀 quieter, more calm, better serenity to go to a race weekend.”

His goal in 2024: “To be the top Honda w🍌ould be good.

“Building 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.

N🌞aturally you compare yourself with the same bike.

“Tꦜo lead the other Hondas🥃, it’s an advantage to develop the bike in my way.”

Zarco, aged 33, was finally able to win his first MotoGP race🅘 last season at Phillip Island.

He fi♑nished fifth in the standings, a career-best result.

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