End of the year means a review of the sports seasons for our Maralpin athletes. 2024 was challenging for Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco, despite a slight improvement at the end of the season.
The 2024 season was no walk in the park for Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco. Difficulties with their bikes, mechanical issues, or errors by their teams punctuated this season. Although challenging, there were positives to take away for both riders.
The Worst and the Best
2024 marks the fourth season for Fabio Quartararo with the Japanese team Yamaha Motor Racing. Following a tough 2023 season, expectations for a miracle were low. In the first part of the season, he only finished in the top 10 three times, highlighting the challenges for Yamaha this year. The main issue remains the lack of grip, linked to a lack of speed. The second part of the season was slightly better thanks to improvements brought in by the team. Unfortunately, the gap remained too large to close. Additionally, there were numerous fuel shortages, which sometimes proved costly, such as losing a p5 at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix just two corners from the finish. However, this did not discourage him. “In terms of riding and the work done with the team, I think it’s the best season,” he stated.
He finished in thirteenth place in the championship. It’s his worst season in terms of results since joining the premier class. It’s also the first year he didn’t make a single podium. For 2025, a new engine and chassis were already in place during the post-season tests. The French rider was already satisfied with these changes: “It was quite a positive test, great things are coming at Sepang,” he told Canal+. “We’re heading in the right direction.” He finished second in these tests. Although it may not serve as a benchmark, there is hope for better positions next season.
A Development That Bears Fruit
Johann Zarco returned with Honda for the first time since KTM Honda in 2019. With LCR Honda being a satellite team (a private team supported by a factory team, ed.), his role is to assist in developing the motorcycle. Mission accomplished for the rider from Cannes, as he was often the first Honda bike on the grid. However, the statistics show unimpressive results. Indeed, it’s his second worst season in MotoGP since 2019. He had no podium finishes this season and only finished twice in the Top 10. His best result was eighth in Thailand.
He finished seventeenth in the championship with 55 points, 34 more than Joan Mir, then the best Honda rider. The lack of rear wheel traction control is a major weakness of his bike, but he managed to handle it on certain circuits to maximize the outcome. Regarding the post-season tests, he posted the tenth-fastest time and already sensed progress for the next season: “There’s not only positive about the bike, which is already informative, meaning it might not be the path to follow for next year.” Will 2025 be a year of renewal for Honda or a continuation of challenges for Johann Zarco? The answer will come at the end of February in Thailand, marking the start of the new season.
