Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Repsol Honda MotoGP racer Nicky Hayden has resumed riding, following a five-week recovery from a hand injury.

“It’s doing good,” Hayden told Roadracingworld.com Friday when asked about his hand.

Hayden suffered a ligament tear and small fracture in his right thumb when he crashed during the 2003 MotoGP season finale November 2 at Valencia, Spain. Dr. Arthur Ting performed surgery to repair Hayden’s injury in late-November, and Hayden wore a cast on the hand for several weeks after the surgery.

“It’s been five weeks Tuesday,” continued Hayden, the 2003 MotoGP Rookie of the Year. “It’s alright. It’s kind of weak, but it shouldn’t be a problem in another two weeks or so.”

Hayden is currently in California riding motocross and said he plans to attend the 2004 AMA Supercross season opener Saturday, January 3 in Anaheim, California.