Former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden has revealed he has been struggling with his crocked right wrist for the past two years and had no choice but to undergo surgery to remove three bones.

The Drive M7 Honda rider, who is being replaced at Indianapolis, Brno and very likely two more races by Britain’s Leon Camier, says he will be back before the end of the season and will have more of a timescale when he re-visits doctors next week.

“You hate to miss your homes race, and races in general, but this is the situation. I have struggled a lot this season and really the last two years with my wrist and it got to the point where, after consulting with many doctors, the only choice I really had was to get rid of the bones that were causing the trouble,” said Hayden, speaking at Indianapolis.

“We took three bones out of the wrist and how we will wait and recover and see how much strength and range of motion I can back but the doctor was really happy with the surgery. I’m alreaddy in a lot less pain so that’s really positive. I’m getting healthy and getting ready to come back soon.

“It is only three weeks since the operation so I will go back to the doctor next week and find out a little bit more when I will be back but I will definately be back this season.”