After the MotoGP pre-season testing at Sepang last week, Nicky Hayden went to Dr. Angel Vilamor’s clinic in Madrid, Spain, and underwent surgery on his right arm.
The 28-year-old Ducati Marlboro rider had the surgery performed to treat ongoing “arm-pump” (compartmental syndrome) problems; many riders suffer from this. After Sepang testing, Hayden went for “clean-up” surgery to remove scar tissue resulting from his first operation for compartmental syndrome by the same clinic in Madrid.
Hayden has been recovering at home, and will participate in the second series of pre-season testing with his teammate Casey Stoner at Sepang on Feb. 25 and 26
During day 1 of Moto GP testing at Sepang, Hayden was seventh fastest of 17 riders with a lap time of 2:02.797; on day 2, he was eight fastest with a time of 2:02.493. The fastest man during both days of testing was MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi, who posted the best time of 2:00.925.
Hayden was happy with pre-season testing results, but did vent his frustration about the rain during the second day of testing.
“I am satisfied but I could be happier,” Hayden said. “These past two days have flown by and the weather hasn’t helped us to make the most of the track time available. Anyway, this morning we got the chance to find a wet setting for the new forks and engine. When we went out in the dry I could feel an instant improvement on yesterday and I set a decent pace but then we didn't improve further. I would have liked to post a better lap time but just when we put some new tyres in the rain came back. However, it was a very positive test and I can’t wait to get back to work at the next one in a couple of weeks’ time.”
