MotoGP defending champ Marquez breaks hand

MADRID — Two-time defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has had surgery after breaking his left hand while riding a bicycle.

MotoGP's official website says that Marquez fell while riding alongside brother and fellow rider Alex Marquez on Tuesday, breaking a fifth metacarpal in his left hand.

It adds that his surgery was "successful" with his Honda team insisting he will participate at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix from Oct. 9-11 "as scheduled."

In April, Marquez broke a finger while riding in a dirt motorcycle race. He had surgery and competed in the Spanish GP later that week en route to repeating as champion.

This season, Marquez is in third place with four faces to go. Valentino Rossi leads the standings with 263 points. Jorge Lorenzo has 249, followed by Marquez's 184.