The gruesome truth behind Johann Zarco's injury lay-off: 'Risk of infection'

The Frenchman was one of the key stories during a crash-ridden Sunday when he faced some incredible misfortune at turn one.

The race was red-flagged due to a horror incident involving Alex Marquez, but upon the restart, the same flag was straight back out as Zarco went down and tangled with Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati.

Taken off his LCR Honda, the 35-year-old got his leg caught and was painfully dragged across the tarmac and through the gravel, later ending up in hospital with a neck brace.

At the time, he gave a positive update from his hospital bed, saying that he was ‘more scared than hurt’ and that the neck brace was ‘irritating’.

There were hopes for a swift Zarco return, but he’s since missed two races and been declared out of a further pair with Cal Crutchlow subbing in for his old team.

Now team boss Lucio Cecchinello has explained why to GPOne, and it’s not for the fainthearted:

Zarco also gave an update of his own on social media, with his return now July 12 in Germany, or more likely at Silverstone after the summer break:

His comments were a change from his initial optimism hours after the crash:

With Zarco’s short-term future still up in the air, his long-term prospects in MotoGP are also being questioned.

Italian outlet MOW claim that there is talk of LCR considering alternatives for next season, with Zarco’s 35 years slowing down his recovery even further.

They report that in the paddock Luca Marini was being considered at a Zaro replacement, but that possibility appears to have died down with the Italian heading to TrackHouse next season.

Fan favourite Crutchlow has already impressed in his comeback after almost three years, and there has been questions over whether he could stay around.

However, the Brit completely shut down any talk of a full-time role, but kept the door open for more testing while speaking at a press conference: