Watch the video of the World Championship stars on a boat ride in Qatar.

Nicky was one of seven of the MotoGP riders who took part in a pre-race publicity boat ride event.

The final day before the start of the 2010 MotoGP season saw seven World Championship riders enjoy a trip in a traditional wooden Dhow boat, as MotoGP stars Nicky Hayden, Loris Capirossi and Héctor Barberá, Moto2 riders Kenny Noyes and Mashel Al Naimi, and 125cc title hopefuls Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró all took in the fantastic Doha skyline ahead of the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar.

Stopping off at the Islamic Museum in Doha, the riders posed for photographs in front of the Qatar skyline following their voyage on the Dhow boat, which was used by pearl collectors in the past.

It was a fitting start to the Grand Prix event, in which Rizla Suzuki rider Capirossi will start a landmark 300th Grand Prix, whilst Barberá (Páginas Amarillas Aspar) and Hayden were also both in excited moods as the action gets even closer. Ducati Marlboro man Hayden explained his aim for the season, and said he is “still not as close to the frontrunners as I want to be, but am happier going into the race. Last year’s 13th was not good enough, but I’m more confident now”.

Watch Nicky’s interview to MotoGP.com