MotoGP is moving closer to the mainstream in the USA judging from news emanating from Hollywood today. Current MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden is slated to appear on the highly rated ABC-TV network show "Dancing With The Stars".
"We were sent a tape of Nicky dancing after his 2005 USGP win at the Laguna Seca track and saw his clear talent for dancing," the show's producer, Cliff Vonkonobelsdorf. "We welcome him to the show and the competition."
Like the dancing of most Caucasian males, Hayden's victory dance steps after his first Grand Prix win were simultaneously alarming and entertaining. Younger brother Roger Lee Hayden confessed that he initially thought his MotoGP racing brother was suffering a mild stroke on the victory podium, until he realized he was, in fact, dancing.
While there are rumors that Hayden's slow start to his 2007 title defense is because he's been burning the midnight oil practicing his dance moves in anticipation of the dance-off, Vonkonobelsdorf denied that, saying Hayden has the dance chops to make it without any practice.
"He's sent us several, well, hundreds of tapes showing him in action on dance floors all over the globe while doing a variety of interesting styles; his ballroom, tango, mambo, square, and disco dancing moves were quite impressive."
Hayden will be teamed with an old friend for the televised performance. That said, he seemed ambivalent when we called him today, April 1, to inquire about his partner on the competition—a woman best known as "The Today Show Girl".
She is the very one who chose him after an impromptu rendition of The Dating Game on the NBC-TV morning show in 2005. Fans might remember her near-violent catch and release of Hayden's head when she gave him a passionate kiss to close the show.
"My ears were sore for a week after that," Hayden said.
When told that to close out their Dancing With the Stars session, TTSG will be tossing him above her head, holding him there like the hood ornament on a 1930s Packard, with a firm grip on his crotch, Hayden honestly had little to say.
"Oh boy," he said softly, and hung up.
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"We were sent a tape of Nicky dancing after his 2005 USGP win at the Laguna Seca track and saw his clear talent for dancing," the show's producer, Cliff Vonkonobelsdorf. "We welcome him to the show and the competition."
Like the dancing of most Caucasian males, Hayden's victory dance steps after his first Grand Prix win were simultaneously alarming and entertaining. Younger brother Roger Lee Hayden confessed that he initially thought his MotoGP racing brother was suffering a mild stroke on the victory podium, until he realized he was, in fact, dancing.
While there are rumors that Hayden's slow start to his 2007 title defense is because he's been burning the midnight oil practicing his dance moves in anticipation of the dance-off, Vonkonobelsdorf denied that, saying Hayden has the dance chops to make it without any practice.
"He's sent us several, well, hundreds of tapes showing him in action on dance floors all over the globe while doing a variety of interesting styles; his ballroom, tango, mambo, square, and disco dancing moves were quite impressive."
Hayden will be teamed with an old friend for the televised performance. That said, he seemed ambivalent when we called him today, April 1, to inquire about his partner on the competition—a woman best known as "The Today Show Girl".
She is the very one who chose him after an impromptu rendition of The Dating Game on the NBC-TV morning show in 2005. Fans might remember her near-violent catch and release of Hayden's head when she gave him a passionate kiss to close the show.
"My ears were sore for a week after that," Hayden said.
When told that to close out their Dancing With the Stars session, TTSG will be tossing him above her head, holding him there like the hood ornament on a 1930s Packard, with a firm grip on his crotch, Hayden honestly had little to say.
"Oh boy," he said softly, and hung up.
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