Nicky Hayden will return to MotoGP action during the second of Ducati's home Italian events𒁃 at Misano this weekend.

The American has been side-lined since suffering two hand fractures in a qualifying fall at Indianapolis on August 18, duri👍ng which he was als🐠o knocked briefly unconscious.

Still far from fully fit, Hayden is neve﷽rtheless looking forward to getting🌺 back on track.

"I can't wait to get back on the track, but I k𒈔now th🎐at 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, wh🍌ile the✨ other metacarpal still has a pretty good 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.

ജ"Braking on these MotoGP bikes puts a lot of stress on the right hand, particularly on a clockwise circuಌit like Misano.

"Nevertheless, racing at one o⛄f Ducati's home tracks is something that I enjoy, and I certainly hope to be able to do the race.

"💎We've got a couple of thingsꦡ 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 𓆏race finish of sixth, four times this year.