MotoGP: Estoril winner Jorge Lorenzo undergoes surgery

Estoril MotoGP winner Jorge Lorenzo has undergone surgery today (Monday, April 14) to cure an arm pump problem that has plagued him in the opening three races of 2008.

The Fiat Yamaha rider had hoped he wouldn’t require surgery after he underwent medical checks in Barcelona in between the Jerez and Estoril races.

But further problems suffered by the 20-year-old during his brilliant maiden premier class victory in Portugal yesterday saw him immediately decide to have an operation.

With a two-week break to Shanghai, he will have sufficient time to recover in time for the China clash early next month and is expected to return to light training in four to five days.

The busy MotoGP schedule would have prevented him from having the operation until the summer break.

Lorenzo first reported his arm pump problem after he finished third in Jerez, but said it was only a problem that hampered him during races.

It hardly proved too much of an obstacle yesterday in Estoril as he defeated Spanish rival Dani Pedrosa and factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi to claim his first win and move into the lead in the world championship standings.