Marc Marquez reveals 'before and after' arm X-rays

MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has posted 'before and after' x-rays showing the fracture to his right arm, then 12 pins and a plate used to stabilise the injury.

The Repsol Honda rider broke his humerus bone during a huge highside at the season-opening Spanish MotoGP, being clipped by the bike as he bounced through the gravel.

Click through the images in Marquez's Instagram post below to see the X-rays.

Amazingly, after undergoing surgery on the Tuesday, Marquez returned to Jerez on Thursday where he passed a medical test and was given permission to ride in this weekend's Andalucia MotoGP.

A compromise with HRC saw Marquez wait until Saturday morning to get back on track, where he set the 19th (+1.298s) fastest lap time in FP3, improving to 16th (+0.999s) in FP4.

But the six-time MotoGP champion had suddenly felt a loss of strength in the injured arm. When the problem continued at the start of Qualifying 1, Marquez pitted and withdrew from the event.

"It was like inflammation or something. The arm got a little bit bigger and maybe pressed some nerve. I was losing the power in some corners I did not expect," Marquez later explained.

"At that point you need to be honest with your body and understand the situation and that’s what I did.

"I said straightaway to the team what’s going on and that I would go out in Q1 and in the first lap, if I feel a little bit this feeling or something similar, I will give up. This is what I did.

"I will sleep well because I tried and it wasn’t possible and Brno [August 7-9] will be another race."

Back-to-back victories for Fabio Quartararo means the Frenchman has a perfect 50-points at the top of the world championship standings, with Maverick Vinales - tipped by Marquez to be his main title rival - second on 40 points.

Due to the shortened season, there are currently only 11 races remaining for Marquez to try and reel in the Yamaha riders.