Nicky Hayden will return to MotoGP action during the second of Ducati's home Italian events at Misano ❀this weekend.

The American has been side-li꧑ned since suffering two hand fractu🍎res in a qualifying fall at Indianapolis on August 18, during which he was also knocked briefly unconscious.

Still far from fully fit, Hayden is neverthelꦏess looking forward to getting back on track.

"I can't wait to get back ꧙on the track, but I know that it won't be easy this weekend," said Hayden, who has slipped to ninth in the championship during his two-race absence.

"My hand is improving and one of the two fractures is healing quickly, while the other metacar꧙pal still has a pretty goo꧂d fracture line.

"I've been able to keep up with my cardio training, and of course I've been doing the normal rehab, including🔯 a visit to Dr Ting in California.

"Braking𒉰 on these MotoGP bikes puts a lot of stress on the right hand, particularly on a clockwise circuit like Misano.

"Nevertheless, racing at one of Ducati's home tracks is something that I enjoy, and I certainly hope to be able t𓆏o do the race.

"We've got a couple of things stacked against us, but we'll see if we can put upꦰ a solid result and kick off a new positive stretch at Misano."

Hayden has taken a best race fi🌃nish of sixth, four times this year.