Nicky Hayden Interview
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Say what you will about his performance on the track, but no one can ever doubt the Kentucky Kid’s 100% effort and his intense drive to race at the highest level. It’s these things that influenced Ducati to re-sign Hayden to a two-year contract extension for 2011 in the face of two lackluster years on the Italian V-Four GP machine.
“It is no secret that he is a rider who never gives up, his whole racing history shows it,” said Ducati Corse Director Filippo Preziosi. “As a person, his tenacity is an example for us all because he shows us that nothing is impossible if you truly believe.”
We last interviewed Hayden in January 2009 as he prepared for his stint at Ducati after many years riding for Honda, on which he won the 2006 world title.
This time we caught up with him at the LA Auto show when Ducati unveiled its new power cruiser, the Diavel. Hayden again demonstrated his PR value as he beamed endless smiles in front of the automotive media while helping announce AMG Mercedes as a new sponsor for Ducati’s MotoGP team.
Despite a less-than-stellar 2010 campaign, Hayden’s performance in the latter part of the season showed the potential of him aboard the difficult-to-ride Desmosedici. He carded top-six finishes in more than half of the GPs this year, finishing just one spot off the podium (in fourth) no less than five times. He finally got his only podium result at the Spanish GP at Aragon, and he again showed his promise at the penultimate round in Portugal by leading the race before falling back to fifth. And at the season-closing Valencia race, he ran as high as second before crashing while dicing with the leaders.
Hayden again showed good form in the post-season test at Valencia, recording the sixth-best time as the quickest Ducati rider. Hayden’s 2011 teammate, the ever-popular Valentino Rossi (and Honda teammate in 2003), struggled adapting to the Desmosedici, ending up in 13th aboard his new machine.
Both Hayden, 29, and Rossi, 31, tested two engine types: a big-bang motor like the one used in 2010, and a new “screamer” version that delivers a bit more power. It seems like Ducati will probably use the big-bang motor in 2011, which is sad for a gearhead’s eardrums. Hayden says about the screamer motor, “Your jaw will drop (if you hear it). I’ve never heard a bike sound so good, and the power is so strong. But it was a little bit aggressive, a little bit hard to get around the tight stuff.”
Check out the accompanying video to find out more from America’s last world champion roadracer. Topics include:
Electronic rider aids: “(People) think electronics is magic, but it don’t work like that. People say now, ‘Ah, electronics, they don’t slide, you can’t crash.’ I crashed more this year than in my whole career, so that’s not really the case. You can still highside them – don’t think you can’t! My back’s still sore from Portugal in the rain!”
Valentino Rossi: “You can bet if there were points were on the line, he wasn’t going to be running around in 13th (like he did at the post-season test). Once he dials it in he’s going to be dangerous. I’ve got no doubt he’s going to be winning races next year.”
Casey Stoner: “He’s probably the best I’ve ever seen as far as just getting on something and going fast.”
The 2011 season: “I love what I do, I love my job, I love my team. This is the last year of the 800s and I’ve not really done nothing. As much as I’m looking forward to going back to 1000s, I’m also looking forward to trying to let this whole 800 era not be a bust.”
The 2012 change to 1000cc engines: “It’s hard to say (if they’ll make racing more competitive). Unless they find a way to limit the electronics, I don’t see the racing changing a whole lot.”
Nicky Hayden’s Career Bio | |
Name | Nicholas “Nicky” Patrick Hayden, a.k.a. "the Kentucky Kid" |
Born | July 30, 1981 (currently 29) in Owensboro, Ky. |
Teams | |
1998 | HyperCycle Suzuki (AMA 750 Supersport) |
1999 | Erion Honda (AMA 600 Supersport) |
2000-2002 | American Honda (AMA Superbike) |
2003-2008 | Honda Racing Corporation (MotoGP) |
2009-Present | Ducati Corse (MotoGP) |
Timeline | |
1998 | 4th AMA 750 Supersport |
1998 | 4th AMA 600 Supersport |
1999 | 1st AMA 600 Supersport |
1999 | 2nd AMA Formula Xtreme |
1999 | 9th AMA Grand National Dirt Track |
2000 | 2nd AMA Superbikes |
2000 | 4th AMA Pro Honda 600 Supersport |
2001 | 3rd AMA Superbike |
2002 | 1st AMA Superbike (At just over 21 years old, the youngest ever to win the championship) |
2003 | 5th in MotoGP |
2004 | 8th in MotoGP |
2005 | 3rd in MotoGP |
2006 | 1st in MotoGP |
2007 | 8th in MotoGP |
2008 | 6th in MotoGP |
2009 | 13th in MotoGP |
2010 | 7th in MotoGP |
Timeline | |
1999 | Rookie of the Year AMA Dirt Track |
1999 | AMA Speedvision Professional Sportsmen of the Year |
1999 | Hagerstown Half Mile Grand National Championship |
2000 | Springfield Short Track Grand National Championship |
2002 | Springfield Short Track Grand National Championship (Twice) |
2002 | Springfield TT Steeplechase Grand National Championship (Hayden sweep with brothers Tommy 2nd and Roger 3rd) |
2002 | Peoria TT Steeplechase Grand National Championship |
2002 | Daytona 200 winner |
Career Totals | |
MotoGP | 3 career wins (27 podiums) |
AMA Superbike | 17 career wins (30 podiums) |
AMA Formula Xtreme | 7 career wins |
AMA 750 Supersport | 5 career wins |
AMA 600 Supersport | 6 career wins |
AMA Grand Nationals | 6 career wins (missing only the Mile for the Grand Slam) |
Related Reading
2011 Ducati Diavel Review (Almost)
Ducati partners with Mercedes AMG
Nicky Hayden’s website
MotoGP 2010 Valencia Results
More by Kevin Duke
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