Nicky Hayden back for Misano

Nicky Hayden has confirmed he will be back in action at the Misano GP having recovered sufficiently from the right heel injury that forced him out of last weekend’s Brno clash.

Hayden cracked his right heel during practice for a Supermoto event in the X-Games on August 1, and he was forced to withdraw from the Czech Republic GP.

But he will be back on his Repsol Honda RC212V in Misano and he said: “I’m certainly excited to be getting back out there with the boys, because I hated missing Brno. I’ve been doing all the old ‘voodoo’ stuff they tell you to do: bone stimulators, lasers, ultrasound, all that stuff, I’m doing everything possible to get back. I had hoped my progress would be quicker. I still need crutches at this stage, but unless something goes south I definitely plan on trying to ride. I’ve been seeing doctors, and I’m going to get something moulded to wear in my boot. I’ve been doing some training in the pool and a few things at the gym, nothing too crazy. Misano is almost a Laguna without the hills, it’s a tight little scrappy track where you need a bike you can be aggressive with. I enjoyed it last year but I’d just as soon they flipped it back around and go the old direction for those big lefts that used to go on to the back straightaway, I remember seeing the old 500s guys riding those on TV.”

The 2006 MotoGP world champion is widely expected to confirm his departure from Honda’s official factory team in Misano with a move to partner reigning world champion Casey Stoner at Ducati.