Ducati MotoGP team-mates Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden both undergo surgery on Monday.
Both factory Ducati
MotoGP riders have undergone surgery on the same day, with the surprise announcement that
Valentino Rossi had metalwork removed from his leg on Monday morning.
The seven-time
MotoGP champion had the rod inserted into his fractured right tibia, following an accident during practice for the 2010 Italian Grand Prix at Mugello (pictured).
The injury is now completely healed and the rod therefore not needed. Rossi's surgery took place at Cattolica's Cervesi hospital.
Meanwhile team-mate
Nicky Hayden went under the knife in California to fix problems related to the left shoulder-blade fracture he sustained in a training accident at the end of December.
Rossi was fifth fastest on the new GP12 during last week's Sepang
MotoGP test, where Hayden could only complete a limited number of laps due to his shoulder.
The second official
MotoGP test of 2012 takes place back at Sepang on February 28. Ducati state that Rossi will be ready for this test, but the team is yet to release a post-surgery update on Hayden.
However the American has posted a post-op picture on his Twitter account @NickyHayden69, adding: "Thanks for all the well wishes. All went ok. It's currently still happy hour in the recovery room..."
