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Forget the days, Courtney Duncan is counting down "the hours'' until she can get back on her bike.
The 20-year-old needed corrective surgery on her left hand after crashing during the German round of the women's motocross world championship in May.
The rookie collided with an errant photographer who had got too close to the track.
Duncan had been on course to record her fourth victory in the championship when she came over the brow and found her path blocked.
The accident left her nursing painful injuries but the more agonising blow was to her title prospects.
Duncan took the setback with good grace and has spent the time rehabilitating and the end date is in sight.
"It is 10 days until the pin comes out and the day after I'm back off to Europe,'' she said.
Duncan had surgery five weeks ago and had a pin inserted to help repair the torn ligament. She has been in a hand brace and her motorcycle has been strictly off limits.
"It is pretty much like a broken bone and has to be braced to heal. If my thumb was moving or reaching all the time it wouldn't heal properly.''
Duncan has kept active during her forced break.
She has been going to the gym most mornings and doing "cardio''in the afternoon.
She has also filled in at her old job at the Coffee Cup cafe in Palmerston when needed.
Removing the pin is a simple procedure and, as soon as it comes out, Duncan is cleared to ride again.
She will travel to her base in Belgium the following day and begin preparations for the remaining world championship races.
She will have about three weeks to be ready for the next event in Switzerland on August 7, while the final event is in the Netherlands in late August.
In her absence, Duncan has slipped from the top of the standings to eighth and is out of contention.
Frenchwoman Livia Lancelot, the 2008 champion, is leading the championship.
"I have not even looked at it ... just because there is nothing I can do. I'm just making sure I'm doing all I can to be ready and have just been focusing on my rehab and coming back stronger.''
Duncan is not concerned the accident will have slowed her down or knocked her confidence.
"Not at all. It is just one of those things that happened and I know that I've been preparing well and doing all that I'm allowed.
"I'm ready to come back and get back out there racing.''
Are you crossing off the days?
"More like the hours,'' came the response.