For Hayden, Getting Another Shot is the Sweetest Result
It is no secret that Nicky Hayden has had a year so far on the factory Marlboro Ducati that has met neither his nor the factory’s expectations. In his first comments since having his contract renewed for 2010 with the MotoGP team, he talks about his season so far and his highlight is not what you might expect.
Uncertainty over whether Ducati would exercise it’s option over Nicky Hayden persisted until the very last moment as the team was in turmoil with it’s star rider, and one time championship leader Casey Stoner, out for 3 races with a mystery illness. As a result the factory were trying to offer Nicky’s seat to almost anyone including Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Loris Capirossi.
Nicky Hayden:- “I always wondered what it would be like to be a Ducati rider and now I know very well. It’s everything I ever hoped it would be and more. This truly is a special brand with many special people. It has not always been the smoothest transition if I am truthful with everybody and the results haven’t been great, but this has allowed me to see both sides of the people and I can say that they have been right on point with their treatment of me, on the good days and the bad days.”
One thing Nicky never did was give up his efforts to improve the bike and his performance on it has been showing through in his results even if he remains somewhat off the pace of the fast four (Rossi, Pedrosa, Stoner and Lorenzo).
“There was one stretch in the season where my results looked like 15th, 12th, 12th, 10th, 8th, 5th. That progression is not just a question of luck. It’s a matter of everybody pulling together and working towards the goal, and this is what we believe.”
Although Nicky fans were thrilled with his podium finish at the Indianalopis MotoGP. Nicky was more impressed with the faith the company showed in him to give him another shot on the factory team for 2010.
“I would say my proudest moment came when the team boss, Livio Suppo, called to tell me Ducati wanted to bring me back for a second year. No contract negotiation between managers and no games, just that Ducati would pick up the option on my second year, and give me another shot. I really do feel it’s where I belong and I couldn’t be happier.
link: MotoGP.com
Nicky was knocked off on the first lap during his most recent race at Misano after he had qualified on the second row. Hayden will be back in action with his newly signed contract and his newly returned team-mate the Portuguese MotoGP at Estoril on October 4th.
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