MotoGP champion Jorge Martin out of action after second hand operation in a month

MotoGP rider Jorge Martin sat in his team's garage during a test day in Malaysia

Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin will be out for an indefinite period after undergoing hand surgery for the second time in less than a month.

The 27-year-old Spaniard, who broke his right hand earlier this month, suffered fractures to his left hand in a training crash, ruling him out of Sunday’s season opener in Thailand.

He had an operation in Barcelona on Tuesday and his Aprilia team said “the procedure was completed successfully”.

The team added that his progress “will be evaluated in the coming days”.

Italy’s Lorenzo Savadori will replace Martin in Sunday’s race for Aprilla, with round two taking place in Argentina on 16 March.

It is a second injury in quick succession for Martin, who claimed his maiden MotoGP world title last year.

He suffered a broken right hand in a crash on day one of pre-season testing in Malaysia earlier this month, which also required surgery.