MotoGP: Nicky Hayden Back In Action This Weekend
Cycle News Staff | September 23, 2014
Photography by Gold & Goose
The MotoGP World Championship returns to Spain for the third time this season for its 14th round and the race at Motorland Aragon will also mark the return to action for Nicky Hayden after a four-race absence.
Hayden underwent surgery on his right wrist in July and has since missed four rounds while undergoing intense rehabilitation. After getting on a motocross bike and dirt tracking at his home in Kentucky this week, Hayden will climb back on the Drive M7 Aspar Honda on Friday to see how the wrist will hold up on a MotoGP bike.
“I am really happy to finally return to action this weekend,” Hayden said. “Racing motorcycles is not only my job but my passion and it hasn’t been easy for me to miss so many races. I just focused on getting back as quickly as possible, but riding a MotoGP is not something you can test your fitness for until you try it. I have been riding quite a bit of dirt track lately, but I can’t say for sure how strong I am so I am looking forward to getting on the bike and seeing the results of the operation.
“At the moment I don’t want to set any objectives other than to get back out there and see how I feel. I am looking forward to seeing the team again and I can’t wait to get back to the serious work on Friday. My arm and wrist feel quite strong and the movement has improved. I didn’t want to come back until I knew I had done everything I could to recover and I am happy with the result. I managed to get on the podium the first year we raced at Motorland; I quite like the circuit and it has some fun corners.”
During his absence, Hayden was replaced on the Aspar team by Brit Leon Camier.
