Zoom Nicky Hayden

Having made use of his post-season ‘down time' to undergo surgery on his shoulder, 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden is now resting and recuperating at home in Kentucky.

Whilst unable to physically type a message himself, the American used some assistance to check in with fans on his official website and inform them of his current condition.

Hayden had previously gone under the knife at the end of last year, although this time he does not have the pressure to complete a season whilst still tender as he did in 2006. Respected surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting was in charge of the operation, and he communicated his happiness with the results to ‘Trick Daddy' after the procedure.

“All went good and Dr. Ting is happy with how it went”, said Hayden in his latest diary entry. “After a week or ten days I'll be able to take the sling off and should have no problems in being 100% for the next test.”

“I probably rushed to get back testing before this season began, and was not fully healed”, explained ‘The Kentucky Kid', who had a difficult title-defending season in 2007. “I can't use it as an excuse for the results this year, although I would be lying if I said it was perfect. It gave me a few problems and I was getting a few Cortisone shots during the season to help. Is that why I got shut for race wins? No! that would be a big violation of rule 76 (no excuses, play like a champion).”

The Repsol Honda rider was not the only racer receiving treatment at Dr. Ting's clinic, as AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies and Hayden's former team-mate in the American championship Jason Pridmore were also being fixed up by the motorcycle injury specialist. The former also got a glimpse of Hayden ‘post-op', dazed from anaesthetic but still focused on the 2008 season, and provided the former World Champion with an amusing anecdote.

“Spies was in there before me, and it sounds like when I came out of surgery I put on a nice show; telling the nurses how pretty they were and calling half my phone book telling them how we can't be running round in 7th place this year!”

DORNA / CAPSIS International