After a four race absence, fo🎐rmer world champion Nicky Hayden will return to MotoGP action at Aragon thi⛦s weekend.

The Drive M7 ꧙Aspar rider has been sidelined since a second round of surgery on his right wrist in July, involving the removal of some small bones, but now feels ready to test himself on a MotoGP bike at a circuit where he stood on the podium in 2010.

"I am really happy to finally return to action this weekend," said the American. "Racing motorcycl💖es is not only my job but my passion and it hasn't been easy for me to miss so many races. I just focused on getting back as quickly as possible but riding a MotoGP is not something you can test your fitness for until you try it.

"I have been riding quite a bit of dirt-track lat💮ely but I can't say for sure how strong I am so I am lo💜oking forward to getting on the bike and seeing the results of the operation. At the moment I don't want to set any objectives other than to get back out there and see how I feel. I am looking forward to seeing the team again and I can't wait to get back to the serious work on Friday.

"My arm and wrist feel quite strong and the movement has improved. I didn't want to come back until I knew I had done everything I could to recover and I am𓆏 happy with the result. I managed to get on the podium the first year we raced at Motorland, I quite like the𝐆 circuit and it has some fun corners."

Hayden, who has a best race finish of eighth this year, had been replaced by Leon Camier. Hayden is in the first year of a two-year Aspar deal and is expected to be joined by Eugene Laverty in 2015, when the Open class Hondas will ✤be powered by this year's RC213V engines.

Laverty's deal is due to be confirmed t▨his weekend.