Nicky Hayden says he should get to ride the 2017 Honda Fireblade at this month’s Jerez WorldSBK test after his Ten Kate team took delivery a few days ago.

The former MotoGP star had a taste of the bike at Valencia while shooting a pre-launch video but upcoming Spanish outing will be the first time he gets his hands on a version that has been through the workshop. How close it will be to a full-spec racebike is anyone’s guess.

“As far as I know the plan is to ride the new bike in Jerez. I don’t want to speak too much but I know that’s the plan. I’ve been in contact with them and from what I’ve heard they’ve had the bike for a couple of days now, so that’s the current situation. I know they’re excited because for them it’s like having a new toy, and they did a great job last year,” said Hayden.

The Kentuckian won’t be fully fit for the first test - which kicks off on January 24 - as he is still recovering from knee ligament surgery but is confident he will be back to 100 per cent before the opening race at Phillip Island.

“The doctors are telling me it’s on track and going well. It’s the first time - luckily for me - that I’ve had to deal with knee injuries, and recovery definitely doesn’t happen overnight. It takes some time, but the doctors say it’s recovering as expected and on schedule so I’ve just got to keep going.

“I hope to be recovered by Phillip Island for sure. It will probably affect me at these next tests, but we still have a month and a half until Phillip Island and I hope by then to be very close to 100 per cent.”