2018 MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has undergone a successful operation on the left shoulder he dislocated earlier this year at hospital in Barcelona on Tuesday.
The Honda rider has suffered all year with his left shoulder dislocating, with the injury becoming more frequent towards the end of the season – most notably during qualifying in Valencia, where he dislocated his shoulder in a crash before going on to miss pole by just 0.130s.
After winning his fifth premier class world title at Motegi, Marquez – who suffered another dislocation in a bizarre incident with Scott Redding during celebrations – confirmed he would undergo surgery to correct the injury in the winter.
On Tuesday at the Hospital Universitari Dexeus, Marquez was operated on by Dr Xavier Mir and his team, with a brief team statement saying he should be discharged within the next 48 hours.
The statement read: “After a fruitful end of season test in Jerez, reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez underwent surgery at the Hospital Universitari Dexeus today, 4 December.
“The complex operation was performed by Dr. Xavier Mir, Dr. Victor Marlet and Dr. Teresa Marlet, all members of ICATME (the Catalan Institute of Traumatology and Sports Medicine), in order to resolve the recurring dislocation in the Repsol Honda Team rider’s left shoulder, an issue which had persisted throughout the year.
“Marquez will be discharged within the next 48 hours depending on his recovery. Next week he will begin a six-week rehabilitation program in his home town, Cervera, to recover from the operation.
“He will then commence his winter training in preparation for the Sepang Test in February.”
In a recent interview with motogp.com, Marquez said he “lost” a lot of his life to the injury, and admitted the his shoulder was on the “limit” in the second half of the season.
New teammate Jorge Lorenzo has also undergone surgery this week, on the ankle he broke in a highside crash at the start of the Aragon Grand Prix – which the then-Ducati rider sensationally blamed on Marquez.