Applause for Johann Zarco in his comeback race too: 9th place ahead of Bagnaia!

11th in FP1, 10th in free practice and 9th in Q2. France’s MotoGP favourite Johann Zarco impressed right from the first session on his comeback. As if the LCR rider, who had suffered a heavy crash in Catalunya three and a half months ago, had never been away, Zarco slotted straight back into the action.

Zarco, starting without the front launch device for the first time, only had to give up a position on the first lap. Zarco: “I definitely didn’t want to get into trouble at the start. And not because of any negative thoughts about the start crash in Barcelona, but simply because Turn 1 in Aragon is incredibly tight when you’re coming from the left. I’d hoped to end up right at the outside in Q2 – but that didn’t work out,” grinned the returnee.

“Luckily, I had a very good feeling after just a few corners. I quickly caught up with Bagnaia. I overtook him and then closed in on Fernández as well. I hesitated a bit longer there, and by then the chance had already passed, as the tyre temperature had already risen significantly.”

Willkommen zum Rennwochenende in Aragón

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Fans

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Red Bull Motorhome

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Ducati

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Marc Márquez & Alex Márquez

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Fabio Quartararo

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Toprak Razgatlioglu

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Jack Miller

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Francesco Bagnaia

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Alex Márquez

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Fermin Aldeguer

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Enea Bastianini

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Jorge Martin

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Luca Marini

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Pol Espargaró

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Diogo Moreira

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Fabio Quartararo

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Jorge Martin

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Johann Zarco

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Der Start des Sprints

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Marc Márquez

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Pol Espargaró

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Enea Bastianini

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Marco Bezzecchi

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Alex Rins

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Francesco Bagnaia

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Brad Binder

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Fabio di Giannantonio

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Marco Bezzecchi

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Qualifying - Marc Márquez, Marco Bezzecchi & Alex Márquez

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Sprint - Alex Márquez, Marc Márquez & Marco Bezzecchi

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Sieger Marc Márquez

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Willkommen zum Rennwochenende in Aragón

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Although Johann Zarco had to concede defeat to Gresini rider Aldeguer over the eleven-lap distance, there was certainly no sign of the Frenchman faltering. The number 5 Honda crossed the finish line in ninth place, eleven seconds behind winner Marc Márquez. Zarco’s physio report following his astonishing comeback was pleasingly brief: “I haven’t had any pain in my knee so far. I can only feel the strain in my legs, but overall I’m very satisfied.”

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30.08.2026 - 08:45

Despite a ‘double long-lap’ penalty in the GP – Zarco is determined to score points again

Rather than the feared withdrawal from the 23-lap Grand Prix, Zarco is therefore thinking more in terms of going on the attack – though he does have a handicap to factor in. As a result of the crash after the start in Barcelona, which also took Bagnaia out of the race, the Frenchman must serve a double long-lap penalty on Sunday.

That fact didn’t stop the combative Zarco from taking an optimistic view: “I think it’s realistic to finish in the points again on Sunday. Because there are plenty of riders behind me who seem to be having much bigger problems. So, despite the double penalty, I’m going into the race feeling relaxed. Also because I’m already feeling very confident about scoring points in the sprint – I think that’s a big advantage for what’s to come.”

Notably, whilst Lucio Cecchinello’s LCR Honda team scored points with both riders, factory rider Marini crashed on the very first lap. Joan Mir disappointed in 16th place.