Johann Zarco is keeping his feet firmly on the ground ahead of the French Grand Prix, despite whispers of a fairytale repeat. The 2025 Le Mans winner stunned the MotoGP world last year by taking victory on an uncompetitive Honda, and with a wet Sunday forecast, some are already calling him the favorite. But Zarco isn't buying the hype.

"I don't think I'm coming here as a favorite... I think people want to believe it," the Cannes native said with a shrug. "Now, after last year, they believe even more that something like this can happen again. Just by looking at the weather forecast, that's why people feel that way. But no, it's more like—maybe I have a chance. It would be unbelievable to live this again."

Zarco's recent form in tricky conditions has only added fuel to the fire. At Jerez last time out, he qualified on the front row on a slippery track, only to slip to seventh in the dry Sunday race. That performance, however, confirmed what many already suspect: when the rain falls, Zarco rises.

"In Jerez, when it was raining, I qualified in second place, fighting for pole position," he explained. "So I confirmed that in wet conditions, I have more chances. And I try to take them when they come. In the dry, even with a very good pace, I couldn't hope for a podium. But when it's raining, I can get more chance."

Still, there's a nuance even the most hopeful French fans might miss. Zarco truly shines on a damp or evolving track—not in a full downpour. "I don't hope for rain on Sunday," he said. "I really don't care. But I know that if it comes, I'll try to use this chance."

For a rider who defied all odds once, the thought of doing it again in front of a home crowd is tantalizing. But for now, Zarco is keeping his expectations as damp as the forecast—realistic, but ready to pounce.