The French rider Johann Zarco, from Team LCR Honda, will have to serve a double long lap penalty on his return to MotoGP following the serious incident at the Catalonia Grand Prix last May.
This consequence was announced ahead of the German Grand Prix, which will mark the fifth consecutive race that Zarco will miss due to injuries sustained in the second fall of the day.
After being affected by the dangerous situation that occurred during the restart of the race, Zarco was sanctioned for his responsibility in the crash, which caused serious injuries to his knee. His goal is to return to competition in September with his bike.
The initial incident, caused by a collision between Pedro Acosta and Àlex Márquez, led to the first interruption of the race, followed by another fall involving Zarco, as well as Luca Marini and Francesco Bagnaia.
These decisions have sparked criticism towards the MotoGP organization, particularly regarding the management of replays after crashes like Zarco’s, which some, including Acosta, suggested should have resulted in the race being canceled.
Zarco himself admitted that he was not in optimal condition to resume the race, thus indicating that the penalties and decisions made may not be the most appropriate in such high-tension situations.
The penalty note states that “on May 17, 2026, during the race of the Catalonia Grand Prix, an accident involving two riders occurred, violating the specific instructions given to competitors.” This falls within the safety regulations established by the championship.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
