JOHANN ZARCO RETURNS TO THE BIKE AFTER HIS BARCELONA KNEE INJURY

Johann Zarco is edging closer to a return to MotoGP after the severe knee injury he suffered in Barcelona in May. The LCR Honda rider, 36, has been sidelined since that crash and was replaced after the Barcelona incident by Cal Crutchlow, who has previously spent several years with LCR.

With the MotoGP World Championship set to resume from August 28 at the Grand Prix in MotorLand Aragon, Zarco is not expected to be on the grid there. However, he has taken an important step in his recovery: “Last week I was back on the bike,” Zarco said. He trained in Andorra on a Honda Supermoto machine, choosing the setup because it was more comfortable for his body position. “I rode a Supermoto bike so it’s easier from the body-position point of view. I tested my knee step by step,” he explained.

Zarco stressed that the key to his comeback is careful progression rather than rushing. “It was very pleasing to do some laps and get my body back into riding,” he said, adding that he is focused on “the right things” and on managing the intensity of each session. He warned that pain can still appear and that the knee can swell again, but described that as normal during this stage.

“The knee has to be trained and stimulated step by step,” Zarco continued. “It’s very important to manage the swelling carefully so the healing process goes properly.”

Despite the caution, he sounded upbeat: “I can say that I’m happy. I’m approaching this with patience—that’s the most important thing in this challenge.” Zarco’s target remains September, and he said he is working hard to reach it “in the best possible condition.”