Fabio Quartararo undergoes arm pump surgery after Jerez misery

After dropping from the Jerez race lead to just 13th after being struck by severe arm-pump problems, costing him the early MotoGP title lead, Fabio Quartararo has unsurprisingly undergone surgery.

With his home French Grand Prix starting next Friday, the Monster Yamaha rider couldn't afford to waste any time if he needed to get the operation done and skipped Monday's test in order to have his right forearm examined.

Few other details are known at present but the medical checks must have confirmed 'compartment syndrome' in his right forearm, with Quartararo – who underwent an operation on the same arm in 2019 - posting the following image on social media with the words: "Everything fine, only one goal is next race at home. Ps : I just wake up".

Monster Yamaha told Crash.net the surgery had taken place at CH Aix en Provence hospital.

Given the short time available before Le Mans, it is assumed that Quartararo had 'normal' arm pump surgery, where the membrane surrounding the muscle is cut to allow more blood flow, rather than a much more invasive procedure to remove the membrane completely.

Quartararo, winner in Qatar and Portimao, had dominated the Spanish Grand Prix weekend prior to his shock decline in the second half of the race. Nonetheless, the young Frenchman is only two points behind Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) in the world championship standings.

Jack Miller, winner at Jerez, underwent surgery for arm pump earlier in the season, between Qatar and Portimao. Most MotoGP riders have the operation at least once during their careers, issues such as the build-up of scar tissue often meaning repeat operations are needed.