 Hayden missed the final tests of the year to have surgery |
MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden says he is fit and ready to start the defence of his title after a successful operation on his right shoulder. The 25-year-old Repsol Honda rider missed the final testing session of the year to have surgery on a fractured collarbone and to remove a metal plate.
"I'll be off bikes for a while but my trainer is going to get me back doing some cardio work next week," he said.
"I'm glad the shoulder's fixed because I can now begin to prepare my defence."
Hayden won the 2006 MotoGP title in spectacular fashion in the final race of the season at Valencia, bringing to an end Valentino Rossi's dominance of the category.
But his title hopes were almost ended by the shoulder injury he suffered in the penultimate race of the season, when he crashed out in Portugal.
He was unable to move his right arm properly but kept the injury secret to avoid giving title rival Rossi a psychological advantage.
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