MotoGP injury news: Race winners return to saddle after long-term absences

The injury-hit 2026 season has taken a toll on several riders, none more so than LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco.

The Frenchman was involved in a nasty Turn 1 incident at the Catalunya Grand Prix back on May 17, and he’s missed six race weekends as a result.

Cal Crutchlow was only expected to replace him for three or four events, but ended up being a substitute for over two months.

Zarco went down at the first corner in Barcelona and got his leg trapped under Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati, which dragged him across the tarmac and into the gravel.

It was later announced he’d avoided any fractures, but what seemed like good news turned out to be anything but.

As a result of the incident, Zarco instead damaged his knee ligaments, and they were inoperable due to the open wound.

Return dates were pushed further and further back, but he will return at Aragon next time out from August 28-30, pending official medical clearance.

Zarco confirmed the news after posting a number of training shots of him back on various motorbikes.

“I’m pretty happy with how the knee is progressing and recovering,” he said.

His team added: “The wait is over, Johann Zarco is ready to fight and will be back in Aragon.

There was further good news over at Gresini Racing.

While not confirmed like Zarco, there are signs one-time MotoGP race winner Fermin Aldeguer could also be present at what is essentially his home race in the south-east of Spain.

The 2025 Rookie of the Year posted similar training shots to Zarco back on a bike along with the caption: “Almost back!”

Aldeguer has been absent since the Dutch Grand Prix on June 28, when he fractured his T7 vertebra in his back.