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# Zarco returns early after one of MotoGP 2026's worst crashes
- URL: https://www.the-race.com/motogp/zarco-returns-early-after-one-of-motogp-2026s-worst-crashes/
- Published: 2026-08-20T12:29:47.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-20T12:29:47.000Z
- Description: Johann Zarco will return at Aragon, ahead of schedule, following one of MotoGP 2026's worst crashes in which he tore his knee ligaments
- Author: Simon Patterson
- Tags: MotoGP, #LCR, #johann-zarco

LCR Honda racer Johann Zarco will make an earlier-than-anticipated MotoGP return at next weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix.

He finally jumps back onto a race bike for the first time since suffering major knee injuries in a Turn 1 pile-up at the Catalan Grand Prix in mid-May.

The French racer tangled with Pecco Bagnaia in the red flagged and restarted race at Montmelo, getting trapped between the seat and rear wheel of the Italian's factory Ducati as they started the race for the second time following the high speed collision between Alex Marquez and Pedro Acosta's malfunctioning KTM.

Tearing his medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments as he was thrown through the gravel attached to the bike, he escaped with only damage to his posterior cruciate ligament, leading his doctors to proscribe a non-surgical return to fitness. 

They believed he would be able to ride a MotoGP bike again before the end of the 2026 season. And, with Zarco making strong progress in recent weeks, that target was originally set for the San Marino Grand Prix next month when his LCR team last updated on the 36-year-old’s progress in early July.

However, with Zarco finally able to return to riding in recent days, first on supermoto machinery and then on a Honda Fireblade, he’s now been passed fit by his doctors to jump back into MotoGP two weeks earlier than planned.

"Zarco’s recovery has continued to improve in recent weeks," said his team in a statement, “allowing him to bring forward his return to racing. 

"He has gradually increased his workload, riding both a supermoto and a Honda CBR1000RR as part of his rehabilitation.

"Having made steady progress and received clearance from his medical team to resume racing, Zarco will travel to Aragon with the aim of returning to competition, subject to passing the mandatory medical assessment at the circuit."

Zarco, who will have to serve a [double long-lap penalty](https://www.the-race.com/motogp/johann-zarco-given-penalty-for-his-eventual-motogp-return/) for his role in the crash which injured him, said he is "pretty happy with how the knee is progressing and recovering". 

He added: "I feel good enough to jump back on the MotoGP bike, and I'm really looking forward to getting back to racing. 

"The Supermoto and CBR have been great for building up the intensity and doing long runs. I've really missed my team, racing and the paddock, so I can't wait to be back in Aragon!"

The news means yet another end to British racer Cal Crutchlow’s time in MotoGP, after the former LCR racer stepped in for the past six rounds to replace Zarco, including the chance to race in front of his home crowd once again, last time out at Silverstone.