Hayden Speaks About Ducati

Wednesday, 16 September 2009 22:24
A year since he signed his contract to become a Ducati rider Nicky Hayden has provided a detailed look back over his time with the Italian factory to date

MotoGP Press Release
Nicky Hayden
Down in 14th place in the standings after 13 races with Ducati, the last of which ended with a blameless first lap crash at Misano, it is fair to say that things have not yet gone to plan for Nicky Hayden with the Italian factory team, but the honest and hardworking American is philosophical about his 2009 season so far.

His results have shown an upward trend since earlier in the year when he changed Crew Chiefs and Juan Martinez was brought back to Ducati to work with him and Hayden already has a 2010 contract with the Bologna-based team and a home podium at Indianapolis to show for his efforts this year.

The Kentuckian rider shared his thoughts on Ducati’s Desmoblog ahead of the final phase of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship:

“Well it has been almost exactly one year to the day that I signed my first Ducati contract, and wow, what an experience! 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.

“People always talk about how it’s important to never give up, work hard , stay together and results will come, but I’m not sure they always believe this is the case. If anybody doubts this theory take a look at my season - we started off bad and I was not competitive, but with the right attitude and all the hard work from every single person involved with me and that team, we have proved it’s true. 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.

“Even though most people would say the highlight of my season would have to be Indy, where I stood on the podium of my home GP after a real dog fight of a race, 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. So in closing I would just like thank all the Ducati fans out there for supporting me and the team. I know our potential is high and we won’t be completely satisfied until we are up where we belong and I promise we will give everything to make y’all proud!”
allaboutbikes/motogp press

Gotta admire people who have the right attitude.
In a sport where egos rule supreme, Nicky seems pretty grounded.
Good luck to him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nuts @ Sep 17 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Gotta admire people who have the right attitude.
In a sport where egos rule supreme, Nicky seems pretty grounded.
Good luck to him.


i cant understand the people who over and over underrate hayden!

from his character he IS grounded, he IS a sympathic guy who always had to fight in GP quite more than some others...

maybe his 2006 title was advantaged by a rossi who had problems...

but how many riders have you seen with this attitude bringing the duc to constant top 5 level and maybe beyond?

a capirex? a melandri? ...

i dont think so.

nicky is a fighter and ill je when he overtakes stoner first time in an equal battle!

to keep him at ducati is the most logic step considering the efforts he has made in this short time!

Compare that to a guy who sits 3rd in the points,signs with the same team and within a week,trashes his employer saying he would rather be somewhere else.I dont care if Asimo is a better rider,if i were a team manager or owner,i would rather have a rider who takes the blame for his shortcomings,than one that blames everyone on the team for their lack of success.Dani has fallen into a year after year pattern of ripping off 2-3 impressive wins, but falling apart in the championship. If a bike is good enough to win 2-3 races a year,its good enough to win 6-7-8 races a year.Dani is one of those riders who can ride like the wind IF,everything is perfect. Get him out of his comfort zone and unlike the greats,he settles.Back to Nicky,besides Asimo and Puig,has anyone ever had anything bad to say about the guy.I still think he is one of the top 5-6 riders in the world and like Asimo,things have to line up for him to be successful, but the difference between the 2 is Nicky will work night and day to make things line up,whereas Asimo sits back and makes demands.Anyway,maybe the Hayden haters can come to grips with why we admire the kid so much. We dont think he is the best rider, we know he had some luck in 2006 but he remains the good ole boy from Kentucky who will work his ... off and treat people with respect.That what we like about Nicky Hayden. Ducati could have easily dumped him this year and not to many fans would have had a problem with it.They see what we know,he will fight,he will treat people the right way and he will be the best ambassador for the product he represents.I would REALLY like to see him string together some solid top 5 finishes to finish up the year so he can mentally be in a good place for 2010. Just keep working Nick,like you said, eventually hard work is rewarded.

VERY good post! couldnt have said it better!

"Ducati could have easily dumped him this year and not to many fans would have had a problem with it.They see what we know,he will fight,he will treat people the right way and he will be the best ambassador for the product he represents"#

so true!!!

I'm hopeful Moto GP will return to a litre engine formula soon and Nicky's supposed SBK riding style will see him competitive again. Either way he will still be my favorite rider; I like his attitude.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Sep 17 2009, 01:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Compare that to a guy who sits 3rd in the points,signs with the same team and within a week,trashes his employer saying he would rather be somewhere else.I dont care if Asimo is a better rider,if i were a team manager or owner,i would rather have a rider who takes the blame for his shortcomings,than one that blames everyone on the team for their lack of success.Dani has fallen into a year after year pattern of ripping off 2-3 impressive wins, but falling apart in the championship. If a bike is good enough to win 2-3 races a year,its good enough to win 6-7-8 races a year.Dani is one of those riders who can ride like the wind IF,everything is perfect. Get him out of his comfort zone and unlike the greats,he settles.Back to Nicky,besides Asimo and Puig,has anyone ever had anything bad to say about the guy.I still think he is one of the top 5-6 riders in the world and like Asimo,things have to line up for him to be successful, but the difference between the 2 is Nicky will work night and day to make things line up,whereas Asimo sits back and makes demands.Anyway,maybe the Hayden haters can come to grips with why we admire the kid so much. We dont think he is the best rider, we know he had some luck in 2006 but he remains the good ole boy from Kentucky who will work his ... off and treat people with respect.That what we like about Nicky Hayden. Ducati could have easily dumped him this year and not to many fans would have had a problem with it.They see what we know,he will fight,he will treat people the right way and he will be the best ambassador for the product he represents.I would REALLY like to see him string together some solid top 5 finishes to finish up the year so he can mentally be in a good place for 2010. Just keep working Nick,like you said, eventually hard work is rewarded.
Well said.
I'm so glad in the end that they didn't sign Pedrosa,eventhough he showed what he was capable of when Dovisioso complained loudly,just before the little robot came back from injury and beat dovis laptimes right from the start,proving very clearly that a whole lot depends on the rider alone.(At the beginning/midseason).But......he's not really likeable to say the least.Hayden's mentality fits like a glove in that team though.IMHO.I'm looking forward to the next races and especially Australia.
I think he might even be 4th or better at philip island.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Anders GUZZI @ Sep 18 2009, 05:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well said.
I'm so glad in the end that they didn't sign Pedrosa,eventhough he showed what he was capable of when Dovisioso complained loudly,just before the little robot came back from injury and beat dovis laptimes right from the start,proving very clearly that a whole lot depends on the rider alone.(At the beginning/midseason).But......he's not really likeable to say the least.Hayden's mentality fits like a glove in that team though.IMHO.I'm looking forward to the next races and especially Australia.
I think he might even be 4th or better at philip island.


Agreed. Nicky loves the Island circuit and is always quick there.
He wont be held back by Michelins later in the race either.

Nicky will pull out a 5th at Estoril
Then a Ducati 1,2 at Phillip Island
Nicky will get 4th (again) in Sepang
Then 3rd at Valencia, ahead of Casey and Behind Lorenzo and Vale

In 2010, Nicky will finish 4th in the championship, making the podium nearly every race.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Sep 17 2009, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nicky will pull out a 5th at Estoril
Then a Ducati 1,2 at Phillip Island
Nicky will get 4th (again) in Sepang
Then 3rd at Valencia, ahead of Casey and Behind Lorenzo and Vale

In 2010, Nicky will finish 4th in the championship, making the podium nearly every race.

I like your enthusiasm Clarky. But I will believe it when the tears of joy are running down my face.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Sep 17 2009, 06:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Compare that to a guy who sits 3rd in the points,signs with the same team and within a week,trashes his employer saying he would rather be somewhere else.I dont care if Asimo is a better rider,if i were a team manager or owner,i would rather have a rider who takes the blame for his shortcomings,than one that blames everyone on the team for their lack of success.Dani has fallen into a year after year pattern of ripping off 2-3 impressive wins, but falling apart in the championship. If a bike is good enough to win 2-3 races a year,its good enough to win 6-7-8 races a year.Dani is one of those riders who can ride like the wind IF,everything is perfect. Get him out of his comfort zone and unlike the greats,he settles.Back to Nicky,besides Asimo and Puig,has anyone ever had anything bad to say about the guy.I still think he is one of the top 5-6 riders in the world and like Asimo,things have to line up for him to be successful, but the difference between the 2 is Nicky will work night and day to make things line up,whereas Asimo sits back and makes demands.Anyway,maybe the Hayden haters can come to grips with why we admire the kid so much. We dont think he is the best rider, we know he had some luck in 2006 but he remains the good ole boy from Kentucky who will work his ... off and treat people with respect.That what we like about Nicky Hayden. Ducati could have easily dumped him this year and not to many fans would have had a problem with it.They see what we know,he will fight,he will treat people the right way and he will be the best ambassador for the product he represents.I would REALLY like to see him string together some solid top 5 finishes to finish up the year so he can mentally be in a good place for 2010. Just keep working Nick,like you said, eventually hard work is rewarded.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what you get when you give an old 6 foot 13 hillbilly from Tennessee some premium tequila--he starts spitting out top quality posts.

(now only if he could extend that same brain power to his political views).

baby steps...

Ah, the thread of good times, I really hope your prophecy comes true clark!

You know, strangely enough I'm a Pedrosa fan who doesn't dislike Hayden, but I'm still bemused as to how some people still can't let go of that 'grudge' even though Dani and Nicky have long stopped talking smack of each other.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (geewhiz14 @ Sep 17 2009, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You know, strangely enough I'm a Pedrosa fan who doesn't dislike Hayden, but I'm still bemused as to how some people still can't let go of that 'grudge' even though Dani and Nicky have long stopped talking smack of each other.

Odd, I seem to recall the smack flowing in one direction only.

Too bad Pedrosa, Puig and Honda didn't see the humor.