Hayden Beats Alonso, Massa, Stoner

Henny Ray Abrams | January 15, 2010

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, ITALY, JAN.15: It may have been 18 degrees, but Nicky Hayden’s million watt smile warmed the night after he scored a surprise win by lapping some of the best drivers in the world to win the go-kart race on ice on the final day of Wrooom 2010, the combined Ducati/Ferrari Marlboro teams launch in the Italian ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio.”That was really awesome; I mean I know it was just for fun and not everybody taking it serious, but still to win is cool,” a chilled but smiling Hayden said after beating Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s Felipe Massa and teammate Casey Stoner. “I mean, I’m a competitive person, so the first win of the year. Hopefully, I’ll get a couple more.”The Ducati Marlboro rider set the table for the go-kart race by coming second to Massa and beating Stoner, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, and two others in the Fiat Panda race, held just prior to the karts. On a TT track-complete with jump-laid out on a frozen rink in the middle of town, Hayden channeled his inner dirt tracker, taking the jump perfectly, using the banked corners, and turning right as well as left. Undaunted by his vaunted competition, Hayden didn’t make a mistake in chasing the Brazilian Formula One ace to the runner-up position. The 2006 MotoGP World Champion even survived being broadsided by teammate Casey Stoner.After a brief interval, the go-karts were fired up and so was Hayden. While others were making mistakes, on the now mostly oval track, with banked corners and no jump, Hayden zipped into the lead and sped quickly away, lapping the entire field. It was a bravura performance for Hayden, who had a less than successful run here last year.”I really didn’t expect to win; last year they beat up on me,” Hayden said. “I had a lot of fun. That was awesome. My kart felt pretty good and was just driving. I mean, I know they probably weren’t taking it all that serious, but I was. When I was leading I wasn’t wanting to get passed. But I think we’re all pretty competitive. That was pretty cool. I ain’t gonna lie. I’m happy to win.”