Two-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has undergone surgery after breaking his hand in a cycling accident earlier this week.
Marquez, 22, saw his faint hopes of defending his championship go up in smoke when he crashed out of last weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix on the second lap of the race when trying to chase leader Jorge Lorenzo.
Despite walking away from this fall unscathed, the Spaniard did himself more damage when out cycling with his brother Alex on Tuesday, breaking his left hand after coming off his bike.
“While out training with brother Alex Marquez on their bicycles on Tuesday, Marc Marquez suffered a fall resulting in a broken fifth metacarpal on his left hand,” a statement on the MotoGP website reads.
“The Repsol Honda rider immediately went for surgery with Dr. Xavier Mir in Barcelona. The operation was successful and Marquez will fly to the Japan for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan as scheduled. He will undergo further checks in the build up to the race.”
Marquez has since been released from hospital and is currently undergoing rehabilitation ahead of the next race at Motegi, Japan next weekend.
With four races remaining, the Honda rider trails championship leader Valentino Rossi by 79 points, meaning that unless he can beat the Italian at Motegi, he will mathematically be out of contention for the title.