Johann Zarco Given Double Long Lap Penalty

Johann Zarco will serve a Double Long Lap Penalty when he returns to MotoGP action after being judged responsible for the first-corner incident following the Catalunya Grand Prix restart.

The Castrol Honda LCR rider is still recovering from injuries sustained during the Catalunya race weekend. However, the penalty has already been confirmed and will apply once Zarco returns to the track.

The incident involved Zarco, Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini in the opening phase after the restart. Zarco was deemed to have caused the first-corner crash, leading the stewards to issue a penalty for the next race in which he competes.

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As this was Zarco's first offence, the sanction is a Double Long Lap Penalty. The penalty will be served when the number 5 rider returns to racing, with his comeback currently targeted for September.

The situation means Zarco's recovery is not only a physical matter, but also carries a competitive consequence once he rejoins the grid. The penalty could affect his race strategy from the start of his comeback weekend.

For Honda LCR, the main focus remains ensuring Zarco is fit before returning to competition. However, the Catalunya penalty will be an additional factor to manage when he resumes his 2026 MotoGP season.