MotoGP: Scheduled surgery in June for Johann Zarco, return still uncertain

Johann Zarco will undergo surgery in early June following left knee injuries sustained during the Catalan Grand Prix, announced by his LCR Honda team. The driver from Cannes also discussed the circumstances of his crash.

Johann Zarco’s return to France, the day after the Catalan Grand Prix, marks the beginning of a crucial medical phase. The LCR Honda driver was repatriated on Monday following a crash that occurred during the second start. Examinations carried out in Lyon followed by a consultation with Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet confirmed left knee injuries: rupture of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, internal meniscus damage and a slight fibula tear. The team announced that surgical intervention will take place in early June, once the trauma has subsided.

Johann Zarco: “I should have decided to retire”

At the time of the second start, Johann Zarco had already been hit by debris on his ankle following Alex Marquez’s crash. The pain was immediate and his foot had swollen. Attended to by his team, ice had briefly reduced the impact, but the contusion remained severe. The Cannes native now admits to a poor judgment call: “my foot was already purple. We put ice on the contusion and the pain eased a bit. That’s when I should have decided to retire.” But determined to defend his team’s colors, the driver, then in fifth position, decided to restart. “Between the images of Alex’s crash and the blow to my foot, I really broke down. I was no longer focused when we lined up on the grid.”

At the first corner of the second start, Luca Marini crashes. Probably disturbed by what had happened and the pain, contact became inevitable. “Marini brought me down with him and I couldn’t brake in time to avoid him.” The Honda then collides with Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati. His left leg became stuck at the level of the Italian’s rear tire. “I went into a spin with his bike and my left leg got stuck between the wheel, the seat and the exhaust pipe.”

The driver then describes the scene on the ground. “I was trapped under the gravel, screaming in pain.” The first responders, certainly in shock, hesitated to intervene. “My leg was burning, and everyone rushing toward me was afraid to touch me for fear of making my injuries worse.” After a few minutes, Johann Zarco finally managed to free himself. “So I pull my leg, and they finally help me. They immobilize me, cut my suit, put me on an IV to stop the pain… I’d never experienced anything like it, and it was downright terrifying.”

Several months of unavailability

LCR Honda now details the next steps in the medical protocol. “On Tuesday, May 19, Johann Zarco met with Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet in Lyon, a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon at the Santy Orthopedic Center, specializing in the management of knee ligament injuries and sports trauma, to evaluate his physical condition in more detail,” the team announces. “Following a thorough examination, it is estimated that it will be necessary to wait a couple of weeks before surgical intervention to treat his ligaments, in order to allow time for the initial trauma and other knee injuries to heal before surgery. After the operation, a detailed rehabilitation plan will be established, allowing the medical team to evaluate a possible timeline for his return.”

Johann Zarco’s unavailability could extend over several weeks or several months. The Cannes driver could even not return until next season depending on the evolution of his injury. As a reminder, his contract will end at the conclusion of the 2027 season. The medical verdict expected in early June will set the initial estimates for his return.