Hayden to miss San Marino GP

The Repsol Honda rider injured his right heel landing from a jump in the X Games in Los Angeles during the six-week summer and had to sit out the Czech Grand Prix two weeks ago.

He rode in the practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday of this weekend, but missed the warm-up this morning and will not start the race.

Hayden had qualified just 16th, two seconds off the pace of polesitter Casey Stoner, and also crashed at the end of the second practice session.

He admitted that the injury was affecting his riding and that he was barely able to use the rear brake. He decided this morning to sit out today's race and rest the injury ahead of his home round at Indianapolis in a fortnight.

"After the first session, I thought it would be alright, but as weekend has gone on I've lost strength in foot," he said. "This morning was by far the worst it's been so we decided not to risk more damage and the medical team advised me to rest up for Indy."