- Two different designs for the 2026 MotoGP season
- Pro Honda replaces Idemitsu as the main sponsor of the second LCR motorcycle
- Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira already have contracts until 2027
Following the conclusion of the MotoGP shakedown in Malaysia, LCR Honda has unveiled its two RC213V motorcycles for the 2026 season. Lucio Cecchinello’s team is once again opting for two clearly distinct color schemes, underscoring both sporting continuity and a strategic new beginning on the sponsorship side.
Proven Castrol design for Johann Zarco
Johann Zarco will remain the team’s figurehead in 2026. The Frenchman is entering his third season with LCR and will continue to ride in the familiar Castrol colors. The green, white, and red design has been subtly modified and now features additional black and blue accents.
Zarco is happy with the new bike and is cautiously optimistic about the coming season. After positive feedback from the shakedown and fast laps from test rider Aleix Espargaro, he sees a good basis for 2026. His goal remains clear: more wins and podium finishes, although he emphasizes that patience and continuous work will be crucial.
Pro Honda takes over the second LCR motorcycle
The biggest change concerns the second garage. Following Idemitsu’s withdrawal, Pro Honda will take over the role of main sponsor in 2026. This ends a partnership that had been in place since 2018 and was closely linked to the deployment of Asian riders.
The change is directly related to the signing of Diogo Moreira. The Brazilian is under contract directly with HRC and will receive full factory equipment on the current RC213V. The color scheme of his motorcycle is based on the former design of the Honda factory team and differs significantly from the Castrol bike of his teammate.
MotoGP rookie Moreira cautiously optimistic
Moreira is contesting his first full season in MotoGP in 2026. His first appearances on the MotoGP bike have been solid. He was still well behind at the Valencia test, but was able to noticeably reduce the gap during the shakedown. On the last day of testing, he was around 1.1 seconds off the fastest Honda test rider.
The Brazilian emphasizes his intensive preparation during the winter and his training work with Marc and Alex Márquez. The goal now is to better understand the limits of the new motorcycle. Additional motivation comes from the Brazilian Grand Prix, which is back on the calendar in 2026 and is a home race for Moreira.
Zarco’s role in Honda’s rebuilding process
Zarco will remain the experienced anchor of the LCR team in 2026. After a strong start to last season with victory at the French Grand Prix, his form dipped in the middle of the season, partly due to new parts that he did not immediately get to grips with. Nevertheless, he finished the season as the best Honda rider in twelfth place overall.
According to the team, his contract extension until the end of 2027 includes the assurance that he will always receive the same technical support as the Honda factory team. This is to prevent performance differences from having a negative impact again, as has been the case in the past.
Divided design as a clear statement
With two clearly separate paint jobs, LCR Honda is deliberately taking a different approach to many of its competitors. The team is thus emphasizing both the independence of its sponsors and the different roles of its riders. On the sporting front, Honda hopes to continue the positive trend of the second half of the season and be more consistently competitive in 2026.
What does this mean for me as a MotoGP fan?
For MotoGP fans, the presentation of the LCR motorcycles means continuity on the one hand and change on the other. Johann Zarco remains a stable reference point within the Honda camp as an experienced rider, while Diogo Moreira brings additional sporting and visual variety to the starting grid with a new name and a new design. The split color scheme makes it easier to distinguish the two LCR bikes on the track and at the same time shows how strongly sponsors and rider selection influence the team structure. In sporting terms, the season promises an interesting mix of development work, a rookie learning phase, and the question of whether Honda can actually translate its upward trend into consistent results.
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