Honda’s downturn in efficiency has continued into the brand new marketing campaign, with the RC213V nonetheless lagging behind rivals regardless of the work that went into upgrading the bike over the winter.
The Japanese producer returned empty-handed from final weekend’s Americas GP, with Luca Marini ending sixteenth and final within the sole-surviving Honda, as Zarco, LCR team-mate Takaaki Nakagami and manufacturing facility rider Joan Mir all retired with unrelated points.
The non-score got here 12 months after Alex Rins guided the LCR group to a surprising victory on the Circuit of the Americas, a venue the place Marc Marquez had beforehand been unbeatable on the manufacturing facility bike.
However Zarco doesn’t see Honda’s lack of ends in the early a part of the 12 months as a trigger for concern, as he feels the model has what it takes to show round its fortunes.
“I am nonetheless optimistic,” he mentioned. “We do not have to be pessimistic, as a result of we knew that it was going to be tough with this actually new undertaking. Honda modifications so many issues.
“It is simple to say we want time, however that is it as a result of on races the place Honda was performing nicely [like Austin], in the meanwhile we did the worst.
“Once we examine to different bikes, we clearly see that one thing is lacking.
Johann Zarco, Workforce LCR Honda
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“[We] do not have to be pessimistic as a result of I actually assume there are not any secrets and techniques on the technical aspect, simply issues to know and we have now the capability of the folks to know it.
“However possibly we have to see it in one other approach, one other prism, one other technique to see issues.
“So long as I can provide this vitality I gave on the bike and provides this rationalization as a result of that is my high quality as a rider, we’ll go ahead.”
Honda MotoGP boss Alberto Puig admitted that he’s “confused” as to why the “good enhancements” made on the bike haven’t yielded the specified outcomes on observe thus far.
He had beforehand instructed an enormous increase in Honda’s efficiency is feasible by the summer season break, as the total influence of its operational overhaul turns into clear.
Zarco mentioned a irritating outing at Austin will solely function a reminder of the place it wants to enhance, because it continues to convey new elements on the bike and make the most of the brand new concessions system.
“We possibly weren’t aggressive. It is simply as nicely taking a beating like this to essentially realise some issues,” he informed French broadcaster Canal+.
“We actually appear to be in a special system. There are not any secrets and techniques, Honda will discover [solutions], as a result of they’ve revolutionised issues a lot that they should discover once more their bearings a bit, however I am making an attempt to analyse it this fashion.
“Clearly, we need to battle and we won’t, so I am gutted. I pedaled after the few laps I did, to sweat the frustration out and let it go.”