Alvaro Bautista has undergone successful surgery to remove the pins that were placed in his left leg after his accident in Qatar at the start of the year.
The Spaniard broke his leg in a practice crash, and though he only missed one other race before returning at Estoril, the after-effects of the injury troubled him for much of the year. On Wednesday. Dr. Angel Villamor removed the pins from Bautista's femur in an operation at Madrid's USP San Jose.
"Thanks to the all the staff at the USP San Jose hospital and Dr. Angel Villamor's terrific team, who have always treated me well," said Bautista. "Now I'll rest and tomorrow morning I'll get discharged to rest at home."
Bautista rode for Suzuki this season, but with the Japanese firm withdrawing from MotoGP for 2012, he has signed to ride with Gresini Honda next year.