You wait ages for a contract announcement and then three of them come along altogether. This week saw official confirmation that Jack Miller is staying at Pramac Yamaha, Luca Marini at the factory Honda HRC Castrol team, and Johann Zarco at LCR Honda. The added bonus is Zarco staying for 2027 as well, becoming the first rider to be officially announced for 2027 (if not the first rider with an actual contract).
Thursday at Barcelona was the first time that we got to actually talk to the riders about their contracts. “It’s a stressful period for everybody, like for anybody who has a job,” Luca Marini said of the negotiation period. From his responses when asked about the length of the contract, more stressful than he is letting on perhaps.
“We explored many possibilities,” Marini said when asked if he asked for a two-year deal. Was it Honda’s choice to only offer him a one-year contract extension? “I don’t know if it’s all their choice. For me, it’s just the best solution for everybody to be safe, clear and transparent, and next season we will start to talk about the next two years.”
Happy Jack
