Former Yamaha factory rider Damon Buckmaster underwent surgery September 9 at the hands of Dr. Thomas Bryan in Covina, California to alleviate symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in his left wrist. “Everything went well, no problems,” Buckmaster told Roadracingworld.com via cell phone. “It was a successful operation, and it really needed doing. I guess he got in there, had a look and said, ‘Yeah, you were due for this.’ It was actually good to know.” Buckmaster said he suffered from his left hand going numb at half-race-distance for the latter three-quarters of the 2005 season, a problem he feels was related to his scaphoid fracture in that same wrist in 2004. “I can only assume, because I’ve never had this before, this all stems from that,” said Buckmaster. “As we know, there’s not a lot of room in the wrist as it is. Then once you start digging and putting screws and stuff in there, there’s not a lot of room for any of that stuff. I’m sure it all contributed to the problem.” Buckmaster had already established a relationship with Dr. Bryan (who operated on Mat Mladin’s ankle the same day) beginning with his hernia operation at the end of the 2003 season and follow-up treatment of his scaphoid fracture, which he suffered at Barber Motorsports Park in 2004. Dr. Bryan also earned some creditability with Buckmaster, and Mladin, because he is a road racing enthusiast, regularly rides at track days and attends AMA races. Buckmaster reported that he has already started riding his road bicycle again and expects to be good enough to ride a motorcycle within two weeks. As for which motorcycle Buckmaster will ride in 2006, he said currently holds “really good” offers to race in his homeland Australia next year, but he would rather stay in the AMA series and specifically with the Attack Kawasaki support team. “There’s a couple of people I’m speaking to, but the main one is the Attack Kawasaki deal,” said Buckmaster, who has always served as his own manager. “But I guess they’re still tying up some loose ends and stuff between themselves and Kawasaki. I can’t tell you anything because I don’t know enough, but time’s running out for everybody. I’m kind of hoping we get something figured out here real soon, you know?” Buckmaster originally planned on returning to Australia tonight, but said he will stay in the United States as long as is reasonable to get a clearer direction on his future.