Johann Zarco has opened up about the frightening crash that left him seriously injured during the Catalan Grand Prix, describing the incident as one of the most terrifying moments of his racing career.
The LCR Honda rider had started strongly from fifth on the grid and was running competitively before disaster struck shortly after the race restart. Zarco explained that he was caught out in traffic and could not avoid contact with Luca Marini, which then sent him into Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati in a violent chain reaction.
According to Zarco, his left leg became trapped between Bagnaia’s rear wheel, seat, and exhaust as the bikes slid uncontrollably into the gravel trap.
“I was stuck in the gravel trap, screaming out of pain. My leg was starting to burn,” Zarco told French outlet L’Equipe.
The Frenchman revealed that marshals initially hesitated to move him due to fears of worsening the injury. Zarco eventually had to pull his own leg free before medical staff could safely assist him. He was later treated trackside, where doctors cut open his racing suit and administered pain relief before transferring him to a hospital in Barcelona.
Medical examinations confirmed a minor fracture to his fibula near the ankle, but the more serious damage involved his left knee. Zarco suffered injuries to both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, along with damage to the medial meniscus, injuries that are expected to require a lengthy recovery process.
The 35-year-old also admitted he regrets taking part in the restarted race altogether. Earlier in the event, Zarco had already been struck by debris during the opening multi-rider crash involving Alex Marquez and Pedro Acosta, which triggered the red flag.
He explained that his left foot was already badly bruised and swollen before the second start.
“My foot was already purple. That’s when I should have decided to stop,” Zarco admitted. “I wasn’t fully connected when we lined up on the grid again.”
The veteran rider acknowledged that he underestimated the condition he was in and now regrets continuing despite the warning signs.
Following a night in hospital in Barcelona, Zarco returned to France and is set to undergo surgery in Lyon under renowned knee specialist Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet.
It marks the first major injury setback of Zarco’s MotoGP career, with no clear timetable yet for his return to racing.
