Click here to watch Nicky’s interview with MotoGP.com after testing.
Despite still feeling the slight after effects of arm surgery from two weeks ago, Nicky Hayden made impressive progress on the Desmosedici GP10 of the Ducati Marlboro team at the Sepang test.
Not entirely happy with how things went on the opening day, Friday was a far more satisfying session for Hayden as he set a time of 2’00.703 – the third fastest of the test as the new engine in his GP10 prototype showed its competitiveness.
“I am obviously really happy because the changes we made yesterday afternoon that enabled me to go a couple of tenths faster despite the heat have proved to work even better today with the track in improved condition,” said Hayden. “After making small steps for the last few test sessions today we have finally taken a big leap forward and I was able to ride fast.”
He added: “The arm wasn’t too bad but it still isn’t as strong as before, which I can feel more than anything in the hard braking, and it was hard work today. Anyway, I am recovering well and now we move on from Sepang feeling really happy.”
Hayden’s team-mate Casey Stoner was second on the timesheet behind Valentino Rossi, as both the Ducati machines came inside the top three times of the test.
Day 2 of the Sepang pre-season test saw Nicky set the third fastest time, just under two tenths behind his Ducati team mate, Casey Stoner!
Congrats Nicky, we know its only testing, but things are looking great for the start of the season!
1 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 2:00.271 - - 39
2 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 2:00.512 +0.241 +0.241 33
3 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 2:00.703 +0.191 +0.432 42
4 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:00.988 +0.285 +0.717 35
5 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:01.014 +0.026 +0.743 44
6 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2:01.320 +0.306 +1.049 50
7 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 2:01.439 +0.119 +1.168 46
8 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 2:01.478 +0.039 +1.207 57
9 Hiroshi Aoyama Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 2:01.692 +0.214 +1.421 50
10 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2:01.732 +0.040 +1.461 25
11 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 2:01.980 +0.248 +1.709 58
12 Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:02.078 +0.098 +1.807 60
13 Hector Barbera Aspar Team 2:02.080 +0.002 +1.809 52
14 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing Team 2:02.082 +0.002 +1.811 66
15 Yamaha T Yamaha T 2:02.287 +0.205 +2.016 18
16 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing Team 2:02.367 +0.080 +2.096 49
17 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:03.689 +1.322 +3.418 2
18 Yamaha O Yamaha O 2:04.500 +0.811 +4.229 43
Nicky ended his first day of the second pre-season test at Sepang in 11th place. Don’t sweat, its his first time back on the Ducati after undergoing surgery on his arm for the “arm pump” syndrome!
1 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 2:01.068 - - 47
2 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 2:01.219 +0.151 +0.151 33
3 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 2:01.631 +0.412 +0.563 52
4 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2:01.687 +0.056 +0.619 52
5 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:01.843 +0.156 +0.775 42
6 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:01.897 +0.054 +0.829 35
7 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 2:02.036 +0.139 +0.968 47
8 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing Team 2:02.038 +0.002 +0.970 76
9 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2:02.078 +0.040 +1.010 34
10 Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:02.086 +0.008 +1.018 52
11 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 2:02.221 +0.135 +1.153 61
12 Hiroshi Aoyama Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 2:02.419 +0.198 +1.351 57
13 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing Team 2:02.447 +0.028 +1.379 35
14 Hector Barbera Aspar Team 2:02.485 +0.038 +1.417 62
15 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 2:02.535 +0.050 +1.467 76
16 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:03.254 +0.719 +2.186 53
17 Yamaha O Yamaha O 2:04.681 +1.427 +3.613 51
18 Yamaha T Yamaha T 2:04.967 +0.286 +3.899 43
You’ve probably already seen these floating around the internet, but here’s a few rather hilarious videos of Nicky and his brothers clowning around with Greg White from SpeedTV!
The Kentucky Kid
DOB: July 30, 1981Place: Owensboro, KY
Nicky Hayden is a former MotoGP and AMA Superbike champion who currently competes for Ducati in the MotoGP World Championship. A dirt tracker in his early years, Hayden slides his bike out of corners, making him one of the most spectacular riders to watch. Off track, the happy-go-lucky Kentuckian is a fan favourite across the globe. Read more...
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Standings
| 1. | Valentino | ROSSI | Yamaha | 306 |
| 2. | Jorge | LORENZO | Yamaha | 261 |
| 3. | Dani | PEDROSA | Honda | 234 |
| 4. | Casey | STONER | Ducati | 220 |
| 5. | Colin | EDWARDS | Yamaha | 161 |
| 6. | Andrea | DOVIZIOSO | Honda | 160 |
| 7. | Toni | ELIAS | Honda | 115 |
| 8. | Alex | DE ANGELIS | Honda | 111 |
| 9. | Loris | CAPIROSSI | Suzuki | 110 |
| 10. | Marco | MELANDRI | Hayate | 108 |
| 13. | Nicky | HAYDEN | Ducati | 104 |