Nicky Hayden says he is eager to repay his Ten Kate Honda team for allowing him to fill in for Repsol Honda in the Australian MotoGP for the injured Dani Pedrosa.

The 2006 MotoGP world champion has enjoyed an intense two weeks after the Jerez round by jetting straight from Spain to Australia to fill in for Pedrosa at the factory Honda team alongside Marc Marquez.

The American rider immediately returns to action this weekend for the final round of the World Superbike championship in Qatar, where he is keen to pay back the Ten Kate squad with strong results after the team gave him the green light to race at Phillip Island.

"I'm ready to switch back to World Superbike mode, tyres and everything else, and the truth is I'm really happy to be back here in Qatar," Hayden said. "I like the racing at night under the floodlights, I think it's fun. I am looking forward to getting on track, and to see how quickly it cleans up and get ready for the races.

"I'm very motivated. The team and Honda have given me a great opportunity to race and do well, as well as letting me do the MotoGP races when I was needed there and had a weekend off. I really hope to repay them with two really good races."

Hayden has a wealth of experience racing at Losail having competed in every Qatar MotoGP since it joined the calendar in 2004 and has reached the podium on two occasions (third in 2005, second in 2006).

Hayden currently sits fifth in the World Superbike riders' championship, 27 points off outgoing Honda team-mate Michael van der Mark in fourth.