While his rivals head to this weekend's Malaysian MotoGP, Takaaki Nakagami has his sights set on another Sepang date after undergoing surgery ཧon his injured right shoulder yesterday (Tuesday) in Japan.

The 27-year-old decided to head for an early operation - even though it meant sacrificing the final three rounds of this season - due to his deteriorating condition and to ensure he is fit for the opening 2020 pre-season test, to be he♔ld at the same Malaysian circuit from February 7-9.

N൲akagami was operated on by Doctor Hiroyuki Sugaya at the Funabashi Orthopedic Surgical Hospital.

“I’ve finished surgery on Mr Nakagami and he had severe cartilage damage in the shoulder, so I removed the damaged cartilage to mobilise [the shoulder⭕]," Dr Sugaya said. "The final outcome looks very nice, so I think he will be ok for the next MotoGP season.”

Nakagami, competing in his second pr🦩emie🐈r class season, added: “Yesterday I had surgery and it was successful. I’m really grateful to Doctor Sugaya. I’ll start physiotherapy when I can and will hopefully be fit and well as soon as possible.

"I want to thank IDEMITSU, HRC and the LCR team for understanding my decision and for giving me their support. I can’t w♛ait to be back for the Sepang test.”

Johann Zarco - who split from the factory KTM team af🌜ter Misano - is replacing Nakagami for the final three rounds of this season, at Phillip🧸 Island, Sepang and Valencia.

The Frenchman qualified 14th and finished&n🍎bsp;13th last Sunday at Phillip Island, is riding Nakagami's 2018-spec RC213V.