File photo by Larry Lawrence
Nicky Hayden has made it official – he will be leaving MotoGP after this season and head to World Superbike to race for Team Kate Honda. In doing so Hayden will attempt to become the first rider ever to win both the MotoGP and World Superbike championships.
Hayden leaves MotoGP after a 13-year career in the series, which included winning the MotoGP World Championship in 2006 (the last American to claim the title), scoring three MotoGP wins, 28 podiums and five poles.
“These last two years obviously haven’t been so good,” said the 34-year-old Hayden. “I haven’t been able to get the results on an Open Honda to really keep a high level bike in MotoGP. I’ve always though World Superbike was something I’d like to try. I liked the racing there, the opportunity felt like a good fit.
“I’m getting a bit older, but I still enjoy the sport and the game. It’ll be a fresh challenge and a new opportunity to go there and have some more fun. Of course I’ll miss MotoGP and I’ve had a great opportunity here and been part of some great teams and worked with some great people but nothing lasts forever and we have to keep moving, go to World Superbike with Honda and hopefully have some fun.”
Valentino Rossi, who battled Hayden to the wire for the 2006 MotoGP title talked about Hayden’s departure.
“It is a great shame for MotoGP to lose Nicky because he is a great rider but also a great guy,” Rossi said. “It’s always good fun to share time with Nicky. I have a lot of great memories and maybe I was the first to see Nicky when he arrived in Japan, for his first test with Honda.”
“I’m part of the best moment in his career because he beat me at the last race and became world champion. For sure we will miss him a lot, but I hope he can enjoy Superbike and I hope that the Honda is strong, because I hope to see him on the podium and fight for the victory.”
Hayden should give a much needed boost to the popularity of World Superbike. The series hasn’t had a leading American contender since Ben Spies won the championship in 2009.
