Following the first winter test at Sepang, where his participation was
limited due to his left shoulder lacking the strength to ride well,
Nicky Hayden traveled directly to Fremont, California, for a thorough
examination at Doctor Arthur Ting's clinic. There, tests revealed damage
to cartilage in the American's shoulder, as well as to muscles in his
back. Tomorrow the Ducati Team rider will undergo an operation in order
to have his condition evaluated more thoroughly, and to treat his
injuries.
"Of course another operation before the season is
never a good thing, Hayden said, "but I'm actually happy that I tried to
ride at Malaysia, because it helped me to discover that the problem
with the shoulder was bigger than we thought. After seeing the scans, it
was clear why I couldn't ride well. Setbacks are a part of life and a
part of MotoGP, so we'll deal with it and do everything possible to get
back on the bike in good condition as soon as possible. Ducati and the
team are putting maximum effort into this championship, and that helps
me to keep my spirits high and to be confident heading into the season."
