ZARCO EXPECTS KNEE SURGERY AFTER HIS RACING CAREER
1 Oct 2026·
Johann Zarco expects to need knee surgery eventually, but the LCR Honda rider says it can wait until he has finished racing. The operation would help protect his long-term health, rather than enable an immediate return to competition.
Zarco injured his knee in a serious crash at the Catalan Grand Prix in May and missed six races during his recovery. Although surgery was initially considered, it was not urgently required. Since returning at Aragon, he has scored points in two of the past three races.
Speaking before the Japanese Grand Prix, the 36-year-old said the knee was improving, while stressing that it still lacks the stability of a healthy joint. “For motorbike, the leg is going pretty well,” he said. “Still, I need to be careful on the activities I'm doing because I can't have, and I won't have, the stability of a normal knee with all the ligaments.”
Recent progress has given him more confidence in everyday movement. Zarco said he went hiking in the mountains the previous week and had begun running short distances—something he had been unable to do before. For riding, however, he said the key was being able to bend the knee properly, a capability that had already made him feel comfortable on the bike at Misano and Austria.
Asked whether he would have surgery during the winter break, Zarco ruled that out. He explained that his meniscus was not in the correct position and that this could lead to arthrosis. “So it's not in a hurry, but if I want to grow old in a good way, the surgery will be necessary,” he said, indicating that he plans to address it after his racing career.
The injury has also changed how Zarco trains. He has stopped playing padel, a sport he enjoyed, and is choosing activities more carefully. Cycling remains an option for cardio, though he described it as tough, while gym work has become a bigger part of his routine. “I was not a fan of it and now I'm enjoying it much more than before,” he said, adding that strength work had helped him make useful adjustments to his body.