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

The American has 𒐪been side-lined sinꦫce suffering two hand fractures in a qualifying fall at Indianapolis on August 18, during which he was also knocked briefly unconscious.

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

"I can't wait to get back on the𒆙 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 metacarpal 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.

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

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

"We've got a coupl✱e of thin♌gs stacked against us, but we'll see if we can put up a solid result and kick off a new positive stretch at Misano."

Hayden has taken a best race finish of sixth,𒐪 four times ꧃this year.