Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2003 AMA Superstock Champion Josh Hayes hopes to return from a broken foot in time to test his new Attack Kawasaki ZX-10R Superbike prior to going to the 2004 season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Hayes suffered the injury while riding motocross January 3. “I was just doing some training. I had ridden a real long moto and gone back out to run around with some friends. It’s pretty stupid, but I ran out of gas,” Hayes told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday at California Speedway.

Hayes’ motocross bike lost power as he took off from a jump, causing him to land short. Hayes landed hard on his feet, breaking his left heel. The Gulfport, Mississippi rider had surgery to repair the fracture, with Dr. Arthur Ting surgically inserting three screws in the slow-healing bone on January 5.

Planning to ride around at California Speedway for brochure photos, Hayes came to the Fontana, California infield road course Tuesday on crutches and with a soft splint on his left foot. Hayes was unable to ride, however, because a shipping mistake sent his new leathers to Ontario, Canada instead of Ontario, California.

Hayes is scheduled for a follow-up examination with Dr. Ting Thursday at which time he hopes he will be given the green light to test his new ZX-10R Superbike at California Speedway or at Willow Springs.