Nicky ended out his first season at Ducati with a 5th place at Valencia, a big improvement on his Duc debut at Qatar! His 5th place awarded him a rather lowly 13th in the overall standings, but only 11 points off Toni Elias in 7th, so it’s not as bad a result as it might look!

Hopefully next year he won’t get taken out in the first corner as often has been the case this season! All the best for testing and the off season!

Nicky took 4th in this morning’s warm up, hopefully the race will go just as well!

Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Lap time Km/h Gap
1 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1′32.856 312.680
2 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1′33.460 308.747 0.604
3 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1′33.744 306.296 0.888
4 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1′33.820 310.077 0.964
5 11 Ben SPIES USA Sterilgarda Yamaha Team Yamaha 1′33.823 308.395 0.967
6 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1′33.825 310.077 0.969
7 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1′33.934 308.924 1.078
8 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing Ducati 1′33.945 314.044 1.089
9 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1′34.017 311.778 1.161
10 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki 1′34.105 308.219 1.249
11 3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1′34.187 313.679 1.331
12 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1′34.351 307.429 1.495
13 44 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Pramac Racing Ducati 1′34.378 306.905 1.522
14 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1′34.516 307.254 1.660
15 24 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1′34.615 309.810 1.759
16 52 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1′34.638 305.084 1.782
17 41 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda 1′34.897 306.469 2.041
18 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1′35.167 303.200 2.311

Here’s what Nicky had to say about qualifying 6th-

Nicky Hayden– (Ducati MotoGP Team) (6th; 1’33.154)

“We have made a lot of progress from yesterday but we have had to work hard and make huge changes to the bike. I know it’s not usually a good sign when you can’t roll something competitive out on a Friday but that’s what we’re aiming for and for the moment my team are doing a great job in the time we have available. The bike was more much enjoyable to ride today and after being fifth this morning I was hoping for the same result this afternoon because that is my worst qualifying result here at Valencia.

We’ll take sixth though – it’s not my best qualifying position but from where we started the year in Qatar I think I was last on the grid and in the hospital so to end it with a second-row start is pleasing. Tomorrow is going to be a tough one as always but we’ll try to get a good start, make sure we don’t get squeezed in down in turn one and have some fun. I’m looking forward to it.”

Nicky will start from 6th on the grid in today’s season-ending Valencian GP.

Nicky finished “best of the rest” in free practice 2.