Hayden tips brother to impress

The younger Hayden has just one previous MotoGP start to his name, when the works Kawasaki team brought him in as a wildcard entry for Laguna Seca three years ago. On that occasion he came through from 16th on the grid to finish 10th.

Nicky Hayden hopes that something similar can be achieved on the LCR Honda this weekend.

"He hasn't ridden that bike, but he rode here on the Kawasaki a couple of years ago and had a good result - he was ninth until the last corner," he said.

"But he had a good run that weekend. He's fit, healthy and ready to go."

He admitted that the short notice call-up had not been ideal for his brother.

"It all went down so quick," said Hayden. "Unfortunately Randy got hurt, but you've got to be ready to step up when you're number's called.

"This week went really quickly, but he's in and he's going to have a go."

De Puniet suffered a broken leg when he was hit by Mika Kallio's bike after crashing during last weekend's German GP. But he hopes to recover in time to return for the Brno race in mid-August.