Roger Lee Hayden For Lrc Honda!!!

[MOKE1K]

The American rides at his home track Laguna Seca this weekend as a substitute on the LCR Honda team. Here he tells motogp.com about the chance to prove himself in the premier class, brother Nicky’s part in making it happen, and the prospect of coming up against his sibling.

Roger Lee Hayden is preparing to put on a strong show in front of his home crowd this weekend at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, where he will ride for the LCR Honda team as a replacement for the injured Randy de Puniet.
Hayden knows stepping into the premier class will be tough but the 27 year-old is more than ready for the challenge, and he is hopeful of proving his potential at a track he knows well.
“I have an uphill battle I guess in not knowing the bike and never haven ridden it against the best riders in the world, but it’s something I knew when I accepted the challenge,” Hayden told motogp.com “My season in World Superbike hasn’t been great so I look at this as an opportunity to put on a good show. It’s not every day you get asked to race in your home GP.”
Discussing his aims for the weekend Hayden continued: “I want to go there and do a good job, to show that I am a capable rider, and to get a good job for next year, whether that’s in MotoGP, Moto2 or World Superbikes. Everybody comes to Laguna and everybody pays attention to the GP. At the same time I know that I have never ridden the bike before and it’s been a long time since I rode a GP bike, which was just the once (in 2007 as a wildcard at Laguna). I’m not going to prove anything if I go there and crash the bike. I don’t have big expectations but at the same time I want to do a good job and keep it on two wheels!”
Brother Nicky played a role on orchestrating the move, with Roger Lee explaining that LCR team owner Lucio Cecchinello approached the 2006 World Champion to enquire about his younger brother’s availability. From there Kevin Schwantz also played a part, and a phone call from Cecchinello followed.
“I agreed to it pretty much straight away,” said Hayden. “The only problem was that I’m doing the Moto2 race (as a wildcard) at Indianapolis for American Honda, so I kind of had to get their permission. I was already committed to them and I didn’t want them thinking I was taking any opportunity that came up, and they were great about it. It all happened pretty quickly, I was just blown away. In a 15-minute span I had a text (from Nicky) asking me if I was interested in riding at Laguna, and phone calls from Kevin and Lucio… I was like: ‘What’s going on?!’.”
Nicky’s advice was also an important factor, as Roger Lee continued to explain: “He just told me to think about it at first, because I was riding a superbike the weekend before, two days later I was testing a Moto2 bike for American Honda, and now I’ll be riding a MotoGP bike. He’s been very supportive, and has helped speed things along with getting information to the team and back to me. He played a big part in it. On a race weekend he has a lot of stuff going on himself.”
And on the prospect of battling his brother in the race Roger Lee added: “I haven’t really thought about that! But I’d like it because it would mean I’d be doing a pretty good job if I’m battling that high up the field! I think however that would be setting my expectations on a bit of an unrealistic level. If it happened I would like it, but I know it’s highly unlikely.”
Finally Hayden discussed the fact that he will be riding a MotoGP bike this weekend, and then a Moto2 at Indy just five weeks later.
“I’m just happy to be getting these opportunities in whatever order they come in,” he said. “Maybe riding a MotoGP bike at Laguna might be better for me because I actually know the track. With Indy I have never raced there, so I think learning it on a 600cc where you don’t have so many things to deal with such as electronics and slower speeds might be a little bit easier.”

[acecycleins]

See! How do you not wanna pull for RL? He's as nice as a momma could make him. Good Luck, RL!

[MOKE1K]

Oh no, I pull for all Americans don't get that twisted, specially with Hayden Bros. I just had a hard time believing your predications that's all.
He's going to be pretty busy.

[12er]

How many bikes is he riding now?

[The_AirHawk]

Originally Posted by 12er

How many bikes is he riding now?

How many will fit beneath him at once?

[acecycleins]

Moke- that wasn't directed "at" you. It was a warm and fuzzy "go Americans" type of statement.

[MOKE1K]

Originally Posted by 12er

How many bikes is he riding now?

He's riding moto2 at Indy and standing in for Randy De Puniet in the Motogp class at Laguna. Were going to see what's really up with Rog. I hope he surprises!

[MOKE1K]

Originally Posted by The_AirHawk

How many will fit beneath him at once?

As many as possible, all the way to the top baby. The implications are staggering, if he can keep it upright and bring it home high in the finishing order. If the finishes are respectable he's on his way and I doubt he stays in SBK for next year.

[MOKE1K]

Originally Posted by acecycleins

Moke- that wasn't directed "at" you. It was a warm and fuzzy "go Americans" type of statement.

It's all good dawg, we just hoonin!