Brno MotoGP: Nicky Hayden avoids lengthy spell on sidelines

Former world champion Nicky Hayden withdrew from this weekend’s Brno GP in the Czech Republic to avoid potentially putting himself out of action for six months.

Hayden’s heel injury he suffered in a practice crash for the X Games supermoto event in Los Angeles on August 1 was so severe that another incident in Brno this weekend could have had more long-term consequences.

Hayden, who withdrew from the Czech Republic clash on Tuesday after further consultations with Dr Art Ting, is planning to back for the Misano race on August 31.

But a spokesman for the Repsol Honda rider told MCN: “Nicky could have come to Brno and raced, but the risk of further injury was too great.

“The injury is such that another crash could have meant he was out of action for six months if he had suffered further damage, which means his season would be over and he would miss some winter testing for 2009.”

Hayden also opted to stay at home in America to recuperate having seen other riders struggle to ride through the pain barrier in 2008.

A spokesman added: “Obviously Nicky desperately wanted to ride, but a lot of riders have come back from injury quickly and it has not helped them, so Nicky felt it was best to miss one race and try and give his heel more time to recover.”