Doohan pulls the pin.

Mick Doohan is finally free of the metalwork that has been holding his right leg together, after another operation in America this week.

The Australian had had to have an external cage fitted to his shattered leg after initial surgery failed to heal the injury properly but, almost six months after it was fitted, the ugly addition has been removed. Doohan admits that he had the option of losing the seven pin device a couple of weeks ago, but did not want to be forced to use crutches in the meantime as he felt it would have hampered his work with Honda.

Mick Doohan is finally free of the metalwork that has been holding his right leg together, after another operation in America this week.

The Australian had had to have an external cage fitted to his shattered leg after initial surgery failed to heal the injury properly but, almost six months after it was fitted, the ugly addition has been removed. Doohan admits that he had the option of losing the seven pin device a couple of weeks ago, but did not want to be forced to use crutches in the meantime as he felt it would have hampered his work with Honda.

''Hopefully, there will not be any need for further treatment,'' he told motograndprix.com, ''The doctor was very happy with the way things looked, so I'm looking forward to staying away from the operating theatre for some time now.

''The leg feels stronger now, and it is a whole lot more comfortable to sleep without the fixator on. I cannot say enough about the work of the surgeon - I feel as though I have never broken my leg!''

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