Hey guys, it’s been a while!
As many of you will know, Ducati will be holding its annual WROOM celebrations tomorrow, including the launch of the brand new Desmosedici and our first look at Nicky being re-joined by his former HRC team mate, Valentino Rossi, in Ducati red!
Hopefully, I’ll have some news and media from the launch up here tomorrow, and stay tuned, as KK-org will be undergoing another facelift sometime in the not-too-distant future!
With the tragic events of today’s Moto2 race at Misano, the results for anything else just seem immaterial to the tragic loss of a life that was gone too soon.
Kentucky-Kid.org would like to extend it’s sincere condolences to Tomizawa’s family and friends at this tragic time. We all know just how dangerous motorsport is, but it’s never nice to be reminded of that with the loss of a star rider whose star had just begun to shine brightly.
RIP Shoya Tomizawa, 1990-2010.
- Nicky Hayden
1. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 40.105s
2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 40.325s
3. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 40.336s
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 40.559s
5. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 1m 40.637s
6. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 40.664s
7. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 41.005s
8. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 41.092s
9. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 41.232s
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m 41.512s
11. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m 41.534s
12. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 41.623s
13. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 1m 41.631s
14. Aleix Espargaro ESP Pramac Racing 1m 41.649s
15. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 1m 41.856s
16. Hector Barbera ESP Paginas Amarillas Aspar 1m 41.896s
17. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 1m 41.923s
Nicky Hayden made it two Americans in the top three during qualifying for the Indianapolis MotoGP round, as the #69 claimed his first ever front row with Ducati.
Hayden qualified in the top-three 24 times as a Honda MotoGP rider from 2003-2008, but it took until his 28th attempt to finally do so for Ducati.
The 2006 world champion was on pole until 2010 championship leader Jorge Lorenzo lapped just 0.011sec quicker with three minutes remaining, then fellow American Ben Spies jumped ahead of them both to claim his first pole in grand prix racing.
Despite missing out on pole by 0.23sec, Hayden was delighted to put himself in a competitive starting position for an event where he took his first, and so far only, Ducati podium one year ago.
“I finally got my first front row with Ducati – it only took a year and a half!” he smiled. “We’re really happy for it though especially because it’s so important for tomorrow’s race.
“If I want to be running up front tomorrow I have to be there from the start and I told Juan [Martinez - Nicky's crew chief] before the session that we were due a front row and today was the day to get it.
“We found a decent setting on race tyres and when we put the soft compound in the jump was so big it felt like the kind of qualifying tyres we used to have.
“To have two American’s on the front row is great for MotoGP in this country and for everybody who supports it over here. Hopefully it brings out a big crowd tomorrow and we’ll do our best to put on a good show.”
Team-mate Casey Stoner will start from directly behind Hayden after qualifying sixth fastest.
The Australian had been fastest in both practice sessions, but the 2007 world champion – who fell this morning – wasn’t able to take advantage of the softer option tyre.
“I’m not very happy with this afternoon’s qualifying session, we expected to be a little faster,” he said.
“During the session we struggled to find the grip with the hard tyre so we spent a lot of time trying to fix it and unfortunately we tried a couple of different things and then when we switched immediately to soft tyres we had trouble with the setting and we didn’t have a lot of feeling.
“I’m a little disappointed for sure, but confident enough for tomorrow. I think we should have a bit better race pace than some of the riders in front of us today.”
Saturday marked only the second time that Hayden has out-qualified Stoner as a team-mate.
Ducati is pleased to announce a renewed contract with Nicky Hayden that will see the American rider stay with the Italian factory’s MotoGP effort for a further two years. His signature completes a new look of the Ducati MotoGP Team line-up for 2011, which will see the 29-year-old line up alongside Valentino Rossi.
Hayden, who over the past two seasons has won over the Ducatisti with his positive and determined attitude, currently lies sixth in the MotoGP World Championship standings and is confident for two successful seasons ahead, which he will tackle with his trademark enthusiasm.
Filippo Preziosi – Ducati Corse Director
“We are really pleased that Nicky will be staying with us for the next two years. It is no secret that he is a rider who never gives up, his whole racing history shows it. As a person his tenacity is an example for us all because he shows us that nothing is impossible if you truly believe. His progress since arriving at Ducati has been impressive and I am sure this trend will continue in the future. Nicky is also a special rider because of his attention to every detail and for him having Valentino as his team-mate means a huge contribution towards the development of an even more competitive motorcycle. I think it is these characteristics that have won the hearts of all the Ducatisti and that is the reason why a Ducati is the bike for him right now.”
Nicky Hayden – Ducati MotoGP Team
“I am very proud to be signing for Ducati again. Last year I ย felt like I rode for Ducati but now I really feel as if I am a Ducati rider. The team, sponsors and Ducati fans have really taken me in and supported me a lot and I really hope to pay them back with the results they deserve. Next year I’ll be teamed with some guy named Rossi who knows a little something about bikes! We’re going to have a strong squad – I won’t predict results but I have no doubt this team will have some real passion, real worth ethic and a lot of fun. It is the start of a new era at Ducati and it is an honour for me to be a part of it.”
On a personal note, I can’t wait to see Hayden & Rossi teaming up again! Ducati has got to have one of the strongest line-up’s going into the new specs for 2012!
Nicky has posted some pics of his special edition helmet designed for Sunday’s Indianapolis GP!
Check out more on Nick’s official website.
DOB: July 30, 1981
Place: 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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