Johann Zarco reveals why he should have pulled out of Catalan GP moments before ‘terrifying’ crash

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Johann Zarco has revealed why he shouldn’t have taken part in the second restart at the Catalan Grand Prix after Alex Marquez’s horror crash.

Despite the unwavering sunlight over Barcelona during last weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix, a dark cloud lingered over the Circuit de Catalunya due to the events that took place around the 12th lap of Sunday’s race.

Both Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco were hospitalised for separate incidents during the Grand Prix, with several other riders also suffering injuries from what transpired at the Montmelo-based circuit.

Zarco has now revealed the extent of the injury that he suffered during Marquez’s heavy crash on the straight between turns nine and ten, noting that he simply shouldn’t have got back on the bike. His decision then led to what transpired afterwards.

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Johann Zarco reveals his foot was ‘already purple’ after Alex Marquez’s Catalan GP crash

During an interview with L’Equipe during his transfer from Barcelona to an orthopaedic hospital in Lyon, the stricken Frenchman re-lived his horror crash that unfolded at the Montmelo-based circuit on Sunday afternoon.

Zarco began by highlighting how “gutted” he was at his decision to restart the race following Marquez’s crash on the straight before turn 10.

“I avoided the biggest pieces, but I still hit a piece of debris with my left foot,” the LCR rider added. “When I stopped in the pits, it was killing me. I took off my boot and helmet, and my foot was already purple.

“We put ice on the bruise, and the pain eased a bit, but that’s when I should have made the decision to pull out. Between the images of Alex’s crash and that blow to my foot, it really brought me down. I wasn’t in the zone when we lined up on the grid again.”

“As a result, I found myself with even more bikes around me; I was sucked in by [Luca] Marini and couldn’t stop in time to avoid him.”

As the grid approached turn one, Zarco caught the back of Luca Marini’s Honda, which sent both riders into the path of Francesco Bagnaia. As all three bikes came together, the Frenchman’s leg got caught in the Ducati, and he was sent into a horrific spiral.

“I went tumbling with [Bagnaia’s] bike, and my left leg got trapped between the wheel, the seat and the exhaust. I was stuck in the gravel trap, screaming in pain.

“My leg was starting to burn, and everyone rushing round me didn’t dare touch me for fear of making my injuries worse. So I pulled on my leg, and they eventually helped me.

“They immobilised me, cut open my leathers, gave me an IV to stop the pain… I’d never been through anything like that before, and it was absolutely terrifying.”

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It truly was a shocking incident that affected everyone on the grid. Fabio Quartararo was reportedly in tears inside his Yamaha garage due to the trauma that came with witnessing a fellow competitor go through such a horrific ordeal.

Zarco will be treated by specialists at the Lyon-based hospital ahead of surgery, which is scheduled for sometime this week. He has prided himself on not having suffered a serious injury in the past, but he’s likely to serve a lengthy stint on the sidelines.