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Seventh place in Thailand and then 6th in Argentina are Zarco's best results since he has been racing on a Honda. The Japanese giant is rearing its head again, and the LCR team rider is the best performer on the RC213V. For Lucio Cecchinello, team owner, undergoing interviews is becoming more enjoyable than in the past. "A lot! - he smiles - But let's be calm because Termas is a track where Honda has always tended to do well." As a seasoned manager, he knows that claiming a victory too soon can be a mistake.
Starting like this, however, makes all the difference. Did you expect that?
"I expected a slight improvement, that yes because that was the trend we had in the second half of last year. HRC had done a lot of work in 2024, and the first real results had started to pick up and be seen after the Misano test. We had definitely taken a small step forward at the beginning of the year and then another one in September. During the winter they continued to work, and in the Sepang tests we could appreciate that everything they had brought in had made small improvements. So I expected to take another step forward, but not so marked, not to start on the front row at the second race."
It was also not a given either to see three Hondas in the top 10 in Argentina.
"It's confirmation that Honda has embarked on a process of rebuilding and improving on what they had been in the last few years, when we had struggled."
The problem remains Ducati, it is strange to say that Zarco was the 'best of the rest' with 6th place.
"I like to point out that Honda had also worked in the past years. My key takeaway is that in the period of the pandemic, the Japanese manufacturers were forced to isolate themselves and lost a bit of perception of the level of progression of their opponents. When they came back, they improved their bikes, but Ducati had already moved ahead and continued to do so, so we were always chasing. We struggled for four years to bring that one and a half seconds down to half a second. The Japanese manufacturers, I mean Yamaha as well, made cyclopean efforts to be able to close that gap. The bikes were getting better, but the others kept getting ahead."
At that time, there were also those who claimed that Honda wanted to retire from racing. Did you ever have any doubts about their commitment?
"Absolutely not. Because, in my opinion, this is about the respect that Honda management has for the founder of the company. Soichiro Honda, in the latter part of his life, stated that there is no such thing as racing without Honda. So Honda must continue racing, and I was always puzzled by the possibility that they would focus only on Formula 1 and abandon motorcycles. I never believed that because we are talking about a company that is close to 20 million motorcycles sold per year. Honda's philosophy has never been to abandon because they can't come out of difficulties, but to react."
You said last year Zarco was clearly angry from time to time, has his mood improved?
"Johann was also angry after his 6th place in Argentina after being passed by Di Giannantonio a few corners from the finish (smiles). He passed him at turn 11 because Johann was complaining about a lot of chattering in that corner, it's a problem we have to try to solve. He was angry even though he had a really good race because he had been in Bagnaia's slipstream the whole time. Being fooled by Di Giannantonio on the last lap gnawed at him."
Is he working in a different spirit now, though?
"It's still early to say. Before we go back to the pit with a smile on our face, we have to wait until we get to Europe. We have certainly improved, having had three riders in the top 10 is a clear sign, but confirmation is yet to come. We've only raced two Grands Prix, the first in scorching heat and the second on a track where we've always gone pretty well, because it's fast and without big braking."
Next up is Austin, where Rins in 2023 won with your team. It was also the last success for Honda.
"I have a wonderful memory of that, but also the knowledge that it was Alex who made the difference rather than the bike. On that track Rins was always fast, he has a way of interpreting some of the corners that allowed him to gain a lot in the fast esses area. Zarco will be able to make a difference at Jerez or Le Mans, but at Austin we don't expect anything transcendental, in fact we know we might have some problems in the most demanding braking points."
Romano Albesiano has been with Honda for less than three months, what is his part in this progress?
"I don't know the details of his work, but I have seen that Romano has improved the level of communication between the two teams and between the riders. The first thing he has done - and we really liked it - was to allow total and immediate access to all data, as well as the sharing of any information and future developments. It is creating better work scheduling and more internal communication. It is obvious that with his experience he is giving guidance to HRC on what the priorities are."
What do you think of Rivola's proposal to allow testing on a MotoGP bike for riders coming back from a long injury? You went through that in 2023, with Rins.
"It absolutely makes sense and I agree with it. It's clear that if there was an unfortunate episode, it's a shame to further inflict it on the rider. The proposal deserves attention, but it is also true that the rules should not be changed month by month for someone's need. The concept is correct, but it would perhaps be more appropriate to talk about it for 2026. I know this position will not please Massimo, but I am talking about philosophy in general. The risk is setting a precedent, going to change the rules every time there is a specific interest of a manufacturer, be it Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, KTM. Massimo is right, that was something we had missed, let's make a new rule, but for 2026."
Let's conclude with Marc Marquez: was his start a surprise for you?
"We all knew that Marquez has an edge, that getting on a competitive bike like the Ducati would make a difference. It is obvious that no one perhaps expected such a clear and immediate domination over Bagnaia. Even Alex put himself between the two of them, while we expected a tighter fight between Marc and Pecco. Seeing how he plays with his brother, both in Thailand and in Argentina, you understand that he has an edge. These kinds of solo races between the two Marquez brothers maybe the Italian public likes them a little less, the Spanish public definitely more (laughs). Whenever I see Juliá I always tell him: you are the happiest dad in the world!" he concluded with a laugh.
