Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa underwent successful surgery on an arm injury in Madrid on Friday.

It was confirmed on Thursday that the Spaniard would miss at least the next two MotoGP World Championship races at the Grand Prix of the Americas and the Argentina Grand Prix due to an 'arm pump' issue - a common injury for motorcycle racers in which a build-up of pressure in the forearm causes pain and makes it difficult to ride.

Pedrosa - who finished sixth in the season-opener in Qatar last Sunday - is expected to miss between four and six weeks.

"The surgery was complicated and aggressive using a microsurgery technique and microscopic lens. It lasted two hours, and was done under a local anaesthetic," Dr Angel Villamor, who performed the surgery, told MotoGP's official website.

"We will now monitor Dani over the next few weeks to measure the success of this surgery."

Honda test rider Hiroshi Aoyama will deputise for Pedrosa.