Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa has undergone successful surgery to remove a metal plate from his collarbone after the Spaniard suffered discomfort during the first two races of the MotoGP World Championship.
Pedrosa had been plagued by a lack of strength in his left arm since an operation on his left collarbone, which he fractured in practice for last season's Japanese Grand Prix.
The surgery involved the removal of a titanium plate and screws from Pedrosa's collarbone in order to stop the intermittent compression of the subclavian artery, which was causing numbness.
The postponement of this year's Japanese GP due to the recent earthquake and tsunami means Pedrosa will have a month to recover from the operation, and should return to action in time for the next round in Portugal on 1 May.
Despite the problems Pedrosa finished third at the opening round of the new season in Qatar and second in round two at Jerez on Sunday to lie second in the points standings behind fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo.
Pedrosa underwent the surgery at the Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona and will next week consult the surgeons over his possible return to racing in the Portuguese GP at Estoril.
