Marc Marquez suffers hand fracture in cycling crash

MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez underwent surgery to treat a broken bone in his left hand after injuring himself while training on his mountain bike near Barcelona, his Honda team confirmed on Wednesday.

Marquez`s chances of winning a third consecutive world title were realistically ended when he crashed out of Sunday`s Aragon Grand Prix to leave him 79 points adrift of championship leader Valentino Rossi with just four races remaining.

However, Honda remain hopeful that the 22-year-old will be fit to ride in the Japanese Grand Prix on October 11.

"Marc Marquez was operated on this morning at the Universitario Dexeus Hospital in Barcelona, to treat a fracture to the fifth metacarpal of his left hand," the team said in a statement.

"The Repsol Honda rider suffered the fracture on Tuesday while mountain bike training on the outskirts of Cervera. 

"If post-operation recovery goes as expected, Marc should be fine to ride in the Japanese Grand Prix, which takes place in ten days` time at Motegi."