Nicky Hayden heads to a track on which he has a proven record of success when the American takes to the Phillip Island asphalt this weekend.
Ducati Marlboro rider Nicky Hayden is brimming with enthusiasm ahead of this weekend’s Iveco Australian Grand Prix, having enjoyed three podium finishes ‘Down Under’ to date.
Hayden has a top-ten finish for the 2009 MotoGP season well within his sights, having steadily improved his form throughout the campaign after a tough start.
The Kentucky Kid is targeting another strong finish at Phillip Island after coming in third last year at the circuit, and with the track record to his name it is a venue which inspires the 2006 World Champion.
“Phillip Island is a track and place I really like. The track is great – it’s fast, flowing and a lot of fun,” said Hayden, who has twice qualified on pole position there. “I hope we can get some decent weather because the place can be really challenging when it’s cold – there are not so many right-hand corners so it can take a few laps to heat and scuff the right side of the tyre. I also enjoy the flyaways at the end of the year because it’s a little different in terms of atmosphere with all the teams traveling together and staying in the same hotels – you see a different side of people.”
“So we’ve got three more races left before the end of the season and I really hope and need to make another step up toward the front. I really need to dig deep and try to make it happen.”
Livio Suppo, the MotoGP Project Director at Ducati Marlboro, is hoping Hayden and his team-mate Casey Stoner – who has won at Phillip Island for the last two years – repeat their past glories. The pair enjoyed an entertaining battle last year when Hayden was still riding a Honda.
“It is always nice to go to Philip Island. It is a magical track and it is full of fantastic memories for our team. Last year Casey and Nicky had a great battle for the lead over several laps and it would be a dream come true to see them recreate that on their Ducatis,” said Suppo.
Kentucky-Kid.org would like to congratulate Nicky’s older bro Tommy and his wife Chrissie on the birth of their daughter Klaudia Rose Hayden!
Hey coming to ya from home in OWB and I’ve got some good news to share with you all. My Brother Tommy and his wife had a new baby a few days ago. Her name is Klaudia Rose Hayden, all is good and momma and baby are back home now and doing well. We’re not sure how fast she´ll be just yet but we’re hoping she’ll be ready for Moto2 in 2025!
You can view some more pics of the Hayden famiy on Nicky’s Official Site
Nicky finished a commendable 8th place at Estoril, while Ducati team mate, Casey Stoner, took 2nd on his return from a 3-race break.
Pos. Points Num. Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Total time Km/h Gap
1 25 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 45′35.522 154.100
2 20 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 45′41.816 153.746 6.294
3 16 3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 45′45.411 153.545 9.889
4 13 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 45′58.950 152.792 23.428
5 11 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 46′08.174 152.282 32.652
6 10 24 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 46′11.231 152.114 35.709
7 9 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 46′11.245 152.114 35.723
8 8 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 46′14.352 151.943 38.830
9 7 52 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 46′19.615 151.656 44.093
10 6 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 46′28.385 151.179 52.863
11 5 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 46′31.220 151.025 55.698
12 4 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki 46′40.037 150.550 1′04.515
13 3 88 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing Ducati 46′40.060 150.548 1′04.538
14 2 41 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda 47′02.821 149.334 1′27.299
Not classified
65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 33′23.887 8 Lap
15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 13′44.836 20 Lap
36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing Ducati 8′18.517 23 Lap
Nicky took 6th in this morning’s warm up… looking good for today!
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 37.334 sec
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 37.562 sec
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 37.788 sec
4. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 37.790 sec
5. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 1min 38.213 sec
6. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 38.234 sec
7. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 1min 38.325 sec
8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 38.651 sec
9. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 38.777 sec
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 38.803 sec
11. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 38.806 sec
12. James Toseland GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 38.842 sec
13. Niccolo Canepa ITA Pramac Racing 1min 39.013 sec
14. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1min 39.187 sec
15. Marco Melandri ITA Hayate Racing Team 1min 39.341 sec
16. Gabor Talmacsi HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 1min 39.675 sec
17. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 39.699 sec
As you can see, we’ve got a brand new spanking layout up at Kentucky-Kid.org! I kinda got sick of looking at the old one, and the coding didn’t look right in Firefox, so I came up with a new, cleaner look!
Obviously, I’m still ironing out some kinks, and I still have to add the pages to the site, so *hopefully* that will happen over the next week or two before I’m off to Sepang for the GP!
And yes, the gallery will be worked on, fingers crossed! If you have a pic of you and Nicky, or Nick racing away at a GP you attended, email it here and we’ll stick it up in the gallery (when its moderately finished!)
Enjoy today’s races and hopefully this time Nicky will bring home some points!
