Nicky will start the Portuguese GP from the third row, having qualified 9th. He had his last flying lap spoilt when de Angelis hit him (yes… AGAIN!) while on the straight. Hayden thought it was an issue with the bike at first and aborted his lap, so let’s just hope that the “Fruity helmeted” moron stays the hell away from Nicky for today’s race!

Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Lap time Km/h Gap
1 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1′36.214 326.804
2 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1′36.474 325.684 0.260
3 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1′36.528 323.011 0.314
4 3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1′36.702 326.057 0.488
5 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1′37.142 325.777 0.928
6 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1′37.448 320.381 1.234
7 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1′37.489 325.220 1.275
8 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1′37.541 317.883 1.327
9 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1′37.654 322.190 1.440
10 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing Ducati 1′37.813 321.102 1.599
11 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1′37.822 318.681 1.608
12 52 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1′37.823 320.922 1.609
13 24 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1′37.911 327.272 1.697
14 88 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing Ducati 1′38.042 326.243 1.828
15 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1′38.342 323.194 2.128
16 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki 1′38.538 324.573 2.324
17 41 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda 1′39.320 307.684 3.106

Well we’re at the mid point of the lil break here and it’s been good. I’m over it though and it’s time to get on my bike and be back at the track.

Everybody been asking what I’ve been up to and expects to hear some wild spring break like vacation stories. Really when you’re on the road like we’ve been this year and the recent back to back race’s, sometimes home is about as good as it gets and when ya don’t have get on a plane for a wk its like finding gold !.

So really I haven’t got anything for ya, other then short training trip to the mountains. I’ve just been back at my base just chillin out a bit, training and getting ready for the last phase of the season which gets hectic with some races that have us flying around the world, PR events then straight into testing for 2010. I’m really looking forward this final strech.

There are a few tracks I really like and I’m feeling more competitive with every race. Well until I’ve got a good story or some good news for yall, take it easy!

Source: Nicky’s Official Site

A year since he signed his contract to become a Ducati rider Nicky Hayden has provided a detailed look back over his time with the Italian factory to date.

Down in 14th place in the standings after 13 races with Ducati, the last of which ended with a blameless first lap crash at Misano, it is fair to say that things have not yet gone to plan for Nicky Hayden with the Italian factory team, but the honest and hardworking American is philosophical about his 2009 season so far.

His results have shown an upward trend since earlier in the year when he changed Crew Chiefs and Juan Martinez was brought back to Ducati to work with him and Hayden already has a 2010 contract with the Bologna-based team and a home podium at Indianapolis to show for his efforts this year.

The Kentuckian rider shared his thoughts on Ducati’s Desmoblog (http://blog.ducati.com) ahead of the final phase of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship:

“Well it has been almost exactly one year to the day that I signed my first Ducati contract, and wow, what an experience! I always wondered what it would be like to be a Ducati rider and now I know very well. It’s everything I ever hoped it would be and more. This truly is a special brand with many special people. It has not always been the smoothest transition if I am truthful with everybody and the results haven’t been great, but this has allowed me to see both sides of the people and I can say that they have been right on point with their treatment of me, on the good days and the bad days.”

“People always talk about how it’s important to never give up, work hard , stay together and results will come, but I’m not sure they always believe this is the case. If anybody doubts this theory take a look at my season – we started off bad and I was not competitive, but with the right attitude and all the hard work from every single person involved with me and that team, we have proved it’s true. There was one stretch in the season where my results looked like 15th, 12th, 12th, 10th, 8th, 5th. That progression is not just a question of luck. It’s a matter of everybody pulling together and working towards the goal, and this is what we believe.”

“Even though most people would say the highlight of my season would have to be Indy, where I stood on the podium of my home GP after a real dog fight of a race, I would say my proudest moment came when the team boss, Livio Suppo, called to tell me Ducati wanted to bring me back for a second year. No contract negotiation between managers and no games, just that Ducati would pick up the option on my second year, and give me another shot. I really do feel it’s where I belong and I couldn’t be happier. So in closing I would just like thank all the Ducati fans out there for supporting me and the team. I know our potential is high and we wont be completely satisfied until we are up where we belong and I promise we will give everything to make y’all proud!”

Source: MotoGP.com

Nicky Hayden is confident that he could have got up to speed on the Ducati GP9 much faster without the testing ban that the MotoGP teams agreed for 2009.

In an effort to cut costs after Kawasaki’s departure, MotoGP followed Formula 1’s lead and introduced substantial restrictions on testing this season. After the three pre-season tests, only single days at Barcelona and Assen took place during the championship – in contrast to previous years when there were more winter sessions and one or two day post-race tests at the majority of events.

Hayden has become more competitive in recent rounds – taking his first podium for Ducati at Indianapolis – but was off the pace at the start of the year, and now rues the lack of opportunities for more mileage.

“At Barcelona we had one test, and at the time I thought the test wasn’t that good, but as soon as we went to Assen I immediately felt a step in those next races,” he said.

“And then again at Brno – at the time we tested a few things and it wasn’t really clear, but I spent a whole day on the bike just testing and riding, and again we went to Indy and were another step better. It certainly makes me wish I had more testing.”

The American is confident he has now turned a corner and can stay with the front-runners for the rest of the season.

“When I ride the bike now, I feel a lot more comfortable,” he said. “I enjoy it. You’ve got to enjoy what you’re doing, and at times it was miserable.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do, I don’t want to get carried away. But we’ve made some progress with the team, and me and [crew chief] Juan [Martinez] working together. We only started together at the fourth race of the season, that took a bit of time.”

Ducati confirmed before Indianapolis that Hayden would be retained for the 2010 season, ending rumours that Dani Pedrosa could take his place. Hayden said he was relieved that all his efforts to improve this year would not be in vain.

“It would have been a real shame, if you look at where we came from the first three or four races to where we are now, to go and start again would have been a shame for me and for Ducati,” he said.

“We’re just now starting to get real good communication, feeling at home in the team and on the bike. Hopefully we can have a good strong last part of the season, another off-season testing together, and start the season next year much stronger.”

He was extremely frustrated to be taken out at the first corner of last weekend’s Misano race by Alex de Angelis. Hayden had qualified sixth and reckoned he was on course for his strongest race of the season.

“That was certainly the best race pace I’ve had, and it was a shame because I could have really learned some stuff in that race and gained some experience on this bike near the front group,” he said. “I really was looking forward to that race on the grid more than any race this year.”

 Source: Autosport

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Nicky speaks about his short-lived San Marino GP to MotoGP.com