Silverstone injury news: Crutchlow joined by another MotoGP fan favourite

The sport rolls over to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix for one of the most challenging and high-speed races of the year.

A dream for both riders and fans, the Northamptonshire circuit is high-risk, high-reward, and as such, it appears a series of big names aren’t willing to put it all on the line just yet.

British fans will be delighted to see that home hero Cal Crutchlow is sticking around for the event.

Crutchlow stepped away from MotoGP in 2020, but has stuck around in testing and reserve roles, subbing in the following three years.

Yet his 2026 return wasn’t on the cards until Johann Zarco’s gruesome injury in Catalunya.

The Frenchman got tangled under Pecco Bagnaia’s Ducati and was dragged through the first corner and into the gravel, making a ligament injury inoperable due to the wound.

Crutchlow took his LCR Honda bike for the following races, with Zarco scheduled to be back for Germany on July 12.

It’s since been announced that Zarco won’t require surgery after all, with the time off doing his knee ligaments the world of good, yet he will miss both Silverstone and Aragon.

An LCR statement read: “After the crash in Catalunya, the initial MRI scans were performed while the knee was still heavily inflamed, making it difficult to accurately assess the full extent of the injury. As the inflammation subsided, further examinations provided a clearer picture and a more positive outlook than initially expected, with the injuries first suspected no longer confirmed.

One of the biggest and most emotional stories of MotoGP’s ‘Silly Season’ is that of Maverick Vinales.

The 10-time Grand Prix winner signed with Tech3 with the plan of moving up to KTM’s factory squad, but with those two spots now blocked off by Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio, he could leave the brand altogether.

He spent the summer break recovering from a shoulder ailment that’s plagued him since last season, but the time off wasn’t enough for full fitness.

As such, Tech3 planned in advance and brought in Pol Espargaro for Silverstone. The 2013 Moto2 champion is another fan favourite and also a former teammate of Crutchlow.

As for Vinales, even with the injury, he’s had to deal with rumours he may not finish the season, to which he responded in strong terms on Instagram:

Another rider who hasn’t made it back in time is Fermin Aldeguer. The second-youngest ever MotoGP race winner fractured his T7 vertebra in practice at the Dutch Grand Prix on June 26.

He missed the remainder of the Assen race, but stayed in the paddock in positive spirits, suggesting a quick return.

However, he missed Germany last time out, and won’t race at Silverstone either, allowing Gresini to sub in compatriot Iker Lecuona. The Valencian previously took part in Mugello and recorded a mighty impressive seventh place.

A Gresini statement read: “Fermin Aldeguer will not compete at Silverstone for the twelfth round of the MotoGP World Championship. The Spanish rider will rest as a precaution.

The last injury update comes from previous championship leader Marco Bezzecchi.

The Aprilia rider led the standings by winning the opening three Grands Prix, but has now gone four without recording a single point.

Last time out in Germany, he suffered two incidents, with the latter a qualifying highside that took him out of the sprint and feature race with a broken collarbone.

Bezzecchi assured he’d be back for Silverstone after double surgery, but the final decision is out of his hands.

He said in a statement: "I'm happy to be back, but first I'll have to undergo medical checks to be declared fit to race.