Hayden: I had a little accident and broke my thumb

Nicky Hayden faces a complicated Aragon MotoGP weekend after breaking his right thumb on a minimoto bike.

The Aspar rider, 19th in the championship but just one place behind the top Open Honda of Jack Miller, said:

"Aragon is next, it's quite a unique track with a lot of elevation and it's quite technical, with some blind entries and downhill braking. It's certainly not an easy track and I haven't made it any easier this year because I had a little accident training on minimotos in Italy and broke my thumb.

"I have seen the doctors and had the scans and I am optimistic I'll still be able to race but we will have to see on Friday how I feel. Unfortunately it's the right thumb, which is always a little bit worse, but I have been doing a lot of therapy in the last days and I definitely feel a bit better.

"We weren't having an easy season as it is and this won't make it easier but injuries are as much a part of this game as finding a set-up for your bike! Hopefully we can go there and still have a positive weekend."

The 2006 world champion won't be the only rider at less than full fitness this weekend, Ducati's Andrea Iannone dislocating his shoulder in a training accident last week.

Hayden is yet to confirm his 2016 plans amid rumours of a switch to World Superbike.