“That breathes new life into an athlete”: Zarco trains for comeback

– Just under two months after his serious accident at the Catalonia Grand Prix in Barcelona, Johann Zarco knows that the worst is behind him. His left leg, which got caught in Francesco Bagnaia’s motorcycle during the fateful crash on May 17, is now healing so well that Zarco’s daily life is back to normal. A few days ago, the 35-year-old Frenchman received confirmation from his doctors that ligament surgery is not necessary.

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Already in June, Zarco had resumed his physical training. In recent days, he has been able to intensify it with bike rides and sessions in the gym. This is how the LCR Honda rider is now specifically preparing for his return to the MotoGP bike. This return is currently planned for the month of September.

“It’s going well because about a week ago an important decision was made, namely not to have surgery,” Zarco is quoted by Canal+. “That’s good because it allows me to start training again and basically get back in shape.”

“That one long month, during which I could hardly move and possibly lost some physical fitness, was also a month of recovery. Now it’s great to start a rehab program and fitness training,” said the 35-year-old.

“If I had been told that I still needed surgery, then the season would have been completely ruined with the operation and the corresponding recovery time. For this reason, I am really happy,” says Zarco.

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“I feel good because I can move normally again and train normally again. That breathes new life into an athlete. It makes you feel alive again. Those are exactly the things that give me the feeling that I am doing well,” says the MotoGP veteran from France.

Which of the two Grands Prix in September Zarco will race again at has not yet been finally decided. What is certain, however, is that on the first race Sunday after his return, he must serve a double long-lap penalty. This is the sporting consequence of the start crash in Barcelona, in which Zarco was so seriously injured.

The MotoGP race commissioners deliberately waited until Zarco was feeling better to analyze the accident from May 17 and to question the LCR Honda rider via videoconference. This happened a few days ago. Since they identified Zarco as the cause of the accident only with a two-month delay, the penalty could also only be imposed with a delay.

A penalty that is postponed for so long is nothing new in the MotoGP scene. Most recently, Jorge Martin himself received such a “delayed” penalty after the start crash in the Motegi sprint in September 2025. The Aprilia factory rider had to serve his double long-lap penalty when he made his comeback two months later at the season finale in Valencia.

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