MotoGP: Johann Zarco declared fit to ride at the Styrian Grand Prix

Johann Zarco has been given the green light to compete in this weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.

The Frenchman passed a medical exam this afternoon (Friday August 21) and has therefore been declared fit to ride. Zarco missed both of today’s free practice sessions but will return to the Austrian track tomorrow morning for FP3.

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Zarco had surgery on Tuesday for a fractured right scaphoid. Zarco was unable to do a fitness test ahead of today’s sessions as it wasn’t 48 hours after his operation. He sustained his wrist injury in his horrific accident with Franco Morbidelli at the Austrian GP last weekend. Both of their bikes almost hit Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales at turn three.

Following an FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel meeting on Thursday, Zarco will be forced to start Sunday’s race from the pit lane. If Zarco decides he’s unable to ride because of his injury, this penalty will be carried on to Misano on September 13.

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MotoGP: Johann Zarco to start Styrian Grand Prix from the pits

First published: 21 August 2020 by Josh Close

If he’s passed fit to compete this weekend Johann Zarco will have to start the Styrian Grand Prix from the pits. 

The Frenchman has been given the penalty for his part in the horrific crash involving Franco Morbidelli at the Austrian GP last Sunday. The pair clashed heading through the kink of turn two, under braking for the slow turn three. Both riders were sent into the gravel at high speed, with their bikes continuing to travel. Morbidelli’s bike came extremely close to hitting Valentino Rossi, whilst Zarco’s Ducati narrowly avoided Maverick Vinales.

The FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel held hearing took place on Thursday afternoon (August 20) and it has been determined that there was evidence of irresponsible riding from Zarco. 

It’s not yet known if Zarco will even be able to ride this weekend. He had surgery on his fractured right scaphoid on Tuesday and will have a medical at 4pm today (Friday August 21).

If he’s unable to ride this weekend, Zarco will take his penalty at the next race he does compete in. All being well, this will be at Misano on September 13.

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MotoGP: Johann Zarco to undergo surgery for fractured scaphoid

First published: 18 August 2020 by Josh Close

Johann Zarco will have surgery tomorrow (Wednesday August 19) to fix a small fracture on the scaphoid in his right hand. 

The Esponsorama Avintia Racing rider had a medical check-up on Monday after persistent pain in his right wrist following Sunday’s huge crash at the Red Bull Ring. The results of that check-up showed that he had fractured his scaphoid and Zarco will now travel to Italy for the medical procedure.

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“On Monday I did some controls on my right wrist because it was still some pain, and I got a little fracture on the scaphoid,” Zarco explains. “I will go to Italy to do the operation on Wednesday morning, with a doctor that has very good contact with Ducati, this is the doctor that many times operates riders. Then we will come back to Austria, and I will be on Thursday at the track to have a meeting about the big incident that happened on Sunday.”

When Zarco returns to the Red Bull Ring on Thursday, ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix, the Frenchman will be required to undergo a medical assessment before making any decision on whether to participate in the race. It’ll be a similar assessment to the one which Cal Crutchlow, Alex Rins and Marc Marquez had to complete ahead of the Andalucia GP in July.

Zarco will also be having a meeting with the FIM Stewards to discuss the accident with Franco Morbidelli at the Austrian GP, which almost led to Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales being hit by their bikes. 

“If the feeling is OK on the wrist and the medical centre declares me fit to ride I will try and see if I can ride the bike,” Zarco added. “The advantage this weekend is we already have all the references from the week before, so this is not a big drama if I miss few sessions and I can take one more day to feel if my wrist is ok. Now, the main thing is the operation, and after that see if my feeling improves. The team is working on the bike to prepare it, and I know everything will be ready if I come back on the bike.

“Maybe there will be some rain, so also this is a chance because on the rain we have less effort on the bike and for me will be really a good chance with the rain if I can race without much effort on the wrist.”