Johan Zarco’s chances of becoming a full-time MotoGP rider are in doubt after suffering an injury at the Catalan GP, according to a report.
Zarko injured the knee ligament And his meniscus when paired with Luca Marini and Francesco Bagnaia on the first restart in Barcelona. He also suffered a fibula tear around his ankle.
The Frenchman has missed the last two races, with Cal Crutchlow coming in as a substitute and making impressive comebacks. LCR Now they have confirmed that it will not be left for Brno and Assen.
Johan Zarco may be invited to play the role of Honda test rider.
The doctors who did the examination Zarco After the accident, he advised to wait at least two weeks before surgery. A month later, there were no further updates.
This inevitably creates chatter in the paddock. As he says reapingThere are rumors that Honda may get the Zarcon LCR seat again for 2027.
Who should fill the 2027 satellite seats?
Based on the rumor it looks like this
The two-time Grand Prix winner is under contract for next year, however Honda He may suggest that the role of a test rider is more appropriate given his circumstances and age. He can help with bicycle development without exposing himself to much danger.
Honda is expected to field a new factory line-up next season, with Fabio Quatararo joining from Yamaha, with Diogo Moreira or David Alonso taking the second seat. The original plan was for Zarco to team up with one of the young guys at LCR.
Reports suggest Luca Marini is joining Trackhouse.So if Honda needs a full-time Zarco replacement, it won’t be available. Marini’s teammate Joan Mir is moving to Gresini.Crutchlow, Aleix Espargaro and Takaki Nakagami all consider themselves semi-retired.
Lucio Cecchinello has a ‘very close’ relationship with Zarco and will give him time before making a decision. But there is a good chance that another rider will take over for 2027.
It’s not clear where the rider himself stands when he returns after a serious accident, though one imagines his choice would be to continue.
A veteran of 172 Grands Prix, Zarco scored 34 points this year. Just 24 hours before his injury, he had a top-five finish at the Catalan GP Sprint.
The 2016 Moto2 champion will compete in the premier class from 2017. With three races to go in 2019, KTM lost the seat, but LCR immediately picked it up.
After four seasons riding for Ducati, he returned to the LCR in early 2024.
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