Photography By Gold & Goose
VALENCIA, SPAIN, NOV. 7 – To say that it has not been a great year for Nicky Hayden is sort of an understatement. For Hayden – America’s only representative left in MotoGP – it’s been a season struggling with injury and a lot of time fighting at the back of the pack on bike lacking top speed.
Hayden also was sidelined for four races after having surgery on his wrist that had been plaguing him since 2011. He was able to return at Aragon, but has been riding with it still on the mend.
“I’m feeling a little better for sure,” Hayden said. “The three races back to back was starting to lose a bit of the power, and the pain, I was kind of hurting in Malaysia. But the week off did me a lot of good, which makes me happy to think that for next year with some real time off and some real time therapy that I can get back.”
But Hayden was not going to lay blame on the wrist for his performance today, 20th overall.
“I know this track is an easier one, not too much hard braking and left handed, but today I wasn’t very fast,” Hayden said. “I can’t really put much blame on my wrist.”
But despite the rough year, Hayden is optimistic. For on the horizon is some help on the track for Hayden in the form of the new Honda RC213V-RS that will replace the Honda production racer. Hayden’s teammate Aoyama, with his new Honda test rider appointment, has already turned laps on it this weekend in advance of the post-season test. It’s already shown a 7-8 mph improvement on top speed, an improvement that gives Hayden a lot to look forward to.
“It’s been a tough season because yeah I don’t feel great and the races have not really been fun because you’re just so far in the back,” Hayden said. “Yeah, it’s been difficult, but we’re going to try on Monday and hopefully with the engine – I know also I need to try and improve my riding and get healthy – but it’s sure going to be a big start to at least try and see the front guys longer. And hopefully this motivation will help me come back to my best. So yeah looking forward to it.”
Like Hayden, it was also dismal year for American road racing, with the national road race series – AMA Pro Road Racing – lacking T.V. and a robust schedule. But out of that bleak existence came the end to the AMA Pro Road Racing era and the birth of a new series: MotoAmerica.
As a former World Champion and AMA Superbike Champion, what were Hayden’s thoughts on the change of the face of road racing in the U.S.?
“I’m pretty happy, excited about it,” Hayden said. “I think anything could be better than what they had. To be honest some of it was probably not deserved at the end, but it just had such a negative vibe. I said it don’t matter what they [AMA Pro Racing] did. They could’ve been standing out there handing out money to all the riders and it would’ve been, well… You know, it wouldn’t have been enough.
“It’s clear they needed to make a change and do something to try to spark some interest. And I think they’ve done that. There’s already been some interest some more people with a fresh idea. The schedule’s already improved, but I don’t really want to give my opinion ‘til I see something happen. I’m confident Wayne… We just know Wayne Rainey, he’s not going to get involved unless he thinks he can make a difference. We know there’s a shortage of American riders around the world. A lot of it has to be related to not getting enough opportunities. Kids with talent versus kids with money. And hopefully get the classes where there’s more competition, deeper fields and get them ready to come to the world level. I’m pretty excited to see how it’s going to shake out.”
