The 2026 factory Honda seat is suddenly coveted.

For two years, since Marc Marquez e꧅nded his big-money contract early just to escape his below-par bike, the Honda has lacked the prestige of old.

But a run of eye-catching perf𝐆ormances, and the 🐟promise of what might lie ahead, means there is now a race to land next year’s factory bike.

Joan Mir is contracted until the end of 2026 but factory teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Luca Marini’s deal expires this 𒁏year, so he is in danger of being replaced.

LCR Honda’s 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Johann Zarco has been the manufacturer’s fastest rider for some time aꦐnd ꦆis hoping for a promotion.

But both riders are in talks with Honda about what comesꦫ next.

"Yes, we ha𝓡ve already started talking to Honda about the renewal,” Marini told Motorsport.com.

“But we are taking it easy, we are taking the꧅ time necessary to do things pro🌱perly. I am never worried.

"I am very happy with the direction that has been🌜 taken. Now I can ride much more natura꧒lly.

“The bike is𓆏 improving and a lot of work is being done♍.”

Marini has finished inside the ꦗtop 10 in each of the past four grands✱ prix.

It is a welcome improvement after finishing 22nd ov🤡erall last year🎃.

Johann Zarco in 'positive talks' with Honda

But LCR satel🐻lite rider Zarco has shone even brighter and hopes to nab Marini’s seat.

“Talks are very, very positive with 𓄧Honda,”𒊎 Zarco told Motorsport.com.

“But [being] so clear with Lucio [🎐Cecchinello] is so nice. To speak with him and be 100% honest.

“He kno🌼ws that a chance to move 🌟up to the factory team is important for a rider; for a career also.

“As ♏a fast rider [on a] Honda, it can be interesting to become this number one rider and I would like to make this step.”

However Zarco, the oldest rider on the MotoGP grid, alrea🔯dy profits from factory support while in the LCR garage. He is also already contracted directly to the manufacturer.

As such, he stands only to gain the pride of representing a factory team. There is no other material beneꦆfit to leaving LCR.

His LCR boss Lucio Cecchinello has, as a result, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:warned Zar☂co against making the leap.

“I believe this is the co💜rrect environment and in my opinion it would be a pity to change completely,” Cecchinello said.

“I understand also his point of view, of course.

“But I want to say that here in LCR we have the same material, we have the same factory spe𝔍cification development and parts.”

Honda have also been strongly 𒆙linked with lo𓃲oking outside their existing pool of riders.

Pedro Acosta and Toprak Razgatlioglu have been mentioned as signing, and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:ജHonda reportedly dream♏ of fielding them both from their factory garage.

But Zarco, seventh in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:MotoGP standings, is hard to ignore.

Zarco was 12th fastest, Marini🌃 11th, in Friday practice for the French MotoGP, the home round for the ♛LCR rider.