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MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden has claimed that, despite enduring a difficult few months, he is now prepared to defend his title when the new season starts this weekend.

The first race of 2007 will take place in Qatar, where in a test a few weeks ago Hayden looked a shadow of his usual self, finishing only the 14th fastest rider as he appeared to have not yet recuperated from shoulder surgery he received late last year.

It was, as the American has admitted, something of a low point but he has promised following a much-improved showing in the final trial in Spain that he is now "ready" for the commencement of the new season.

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Hayden explained: "I'd like to arrive and say 'Hey! I'm great, everything's perfect', but it's been a very complicated preseason, first recovering from my shoulder surgery and then with the extra aspect of working on a completely new bike.

"Now I'm really looking forward to the start of the races."

When asked to identify who his main rivals will be this time around, the 25-year-old responded that "there are no one-armed riders" in the competition, although he tellingly cited both Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa as potential challengers.

Hayden beat Rossi to the title in the final race of last season, but both he and Pedrosa have regularly featured among the fastest racers throughout preseason and Hayden will have to rediscover last year's level of performance if he wants to repeat its final outcome.

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