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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 [...]
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 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!
The Official MotoGP site has confirmed today that Nicky Hayden has re-signed for 2010 with the factory Ducati squad! Great news for everyone involved, and nice to see Ducati stick with the same line up for more than one year!
Ducati confirm Hayden for factory team again in 2010
Thursday, 03 September 2009
Ahead of his second [...]
The Official MotoGP site has confirmed today that Nicky Hayden has re-signed for 2010 with the factory Ducati squad! Great news for everyone involved, and nice to see Ducati stick with the same line up for more than one year!
Ducati confirm Hayden for factory team again in 2010
Thursday, 03 September 2009
Ahead of his second appearance for Ducati on Italian soil this weekend it has been confirmed that Nicky Hayden will ride for the factory team again in 2010.
Ducati Corse announced on Thursday that Nicky Hayden will sign a one year extension to his current agreement and will line up alongside Casey Stoner in the Ducati Marlboro team for 2010.
The news comes ahead of Hayden’s second appearance for Ducati in Italy, at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, and on the back of his first podium for the factory at his home event at Indianapolis last weekend.
Hayden commented, “This has been a very good week and this news just adds to that. After the good result in Indy, now to renew the deal with Ducati is exactly what I wanted. I’m very happy. I always had faith and believed that we could achieve good results.”
He continued, “I’m excited for these last five races of the 2009 season, and if you look at the progression we have made from the start of the season to the middle, hopefully we will continue this through to the end. I just wish to say a big thanks to all the guys who made this happen, especially everybody in Ducati, as well as all our sponsors.”
Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali stated, “The confirmation of Nicky is the right reward for a rider who has been shown to perfectly embody the frame of mind that characterises Ducati – passion, determination and commitment. We have always considered Nicky to be an important asset to the Ducati 2010 strategy and we are very happy that he will remain in the Ducati Marlboro team. His progression through the season has been constant up to the podium in Indianapolis and we are certain that the experience he has gained will be decisive for a 2010 season full of success.”
Source: MotoGP.com
Crash.net have reported that Ducati is not the only option for Nicky in 2010, with our favourite Kentuckian adding that he has “a few good options” for 2010.
Shortly after claiming his best dry qualifying performance of the season, Nicky Hayden indicated that Ducati Marlboro is not his only ‘good option’ for the 2010 MotoGP season. [...]
Crash.net have reported that Ducati is not the only option for Nicky in 2010, with our favourite Kentuckian adding that he has “a few good options” for 2010.
Shortly after claiming his best dry qualifying performance of the season, Nicky Hayden indicated that Ducati Marlboro is not his only ‘good option’ for the 2010 MotoGP season.
Hayden is still waiting to hear if he will be retained by the factory Ducati team for 2010, but has done his chances no harm by being the top Desmosedici rider in all three sessions so far at Indianapolis, en route to sixth on the grid.
“I’ve been in years like this before,” Hayden said of his present contract situation. “I try to block it out and let the managers handle the thing. I got a couple of good options. I don’t know if I will be here in this [Ducati Marlboro] garage next year. But regardless, I feel pretty confident that I will have a good package.”
Ducati has an option on Hayden’s services until next weekend’s Misano round, but the Italian factory’s (unsuccessful) big-money quest to secure Jorge Lorenzo – plus rumours of discussions with yet-to-sign Dani Pedrosa – have left Hayden, and even absent team leader Casey Stoner, looking vulnerable.
With Fiat Yamaha having completed its factory line-up, and Honda intent on retaining Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, Hayden’s ‘good options’ may include Tech 3 Yamaha or a switch to another Ducati team, perhaps with full factory backing.
Regardless, a repeat of last year’s Indy podium would surely convince Ducati to give the 2006 world champion a second season at the factory team…
While I think Ducati would be stupid not to keep him around for a second season, the ball is really in Hayden’s court. Ducati have failed at courting Jorge Lorenzo and now may be in talks with Pedrosa, so Hayden’s place in the team is not assured (and if you believe the rumours, Casey Stoner might not be either!). Ducati Team Manager, Livio Suppo, recently spoke of his disappointment with Hayden’s results, so it seems as though he could be on shaky ground.
Tech 3 Yamaha would be a good option, as the satellite Yam (in the right hands) is capable of beating rival factory contenders on a regular basis. The Yamaha also seems to be able to suit a broader range of riding styles compared with the Ducati. However, Colin Edwards has had a standout season onboard the bike, and looks set to continue with the team, meaning that two Americans in the same team probably won’t be good on the marketing side.
All shall probably be revealed next week at Misano, when Ducati will decide whether or not Hayden will remain with the team. Smart money says he’ll stay, but regardless, he’s probably assured of having a seat in MotoGP in 2010 in some form or another.
MotoGPMatters has reported that Ducati team manager Livio Suppo has spoken of Hayden’s results as “disappointing” during an interview with German website, Motorsport-Total.com.
Suppo also stated bluntly that he did not believe that Nicky Hayden was the answer to their problems. “Nicky’s results are disappointing, he is below our expectations of him,” Suppo said. But the Ducati factory team boss also pointed out that Hayden was making progress. “He was sixth in Brno, which is very good – especially when you realize that his lap times were almost good enough to be on the podium. Now we will wait and see what happens at Indianapolis, last year he did a good job. We will watch what happens and take it from there.”
Suppo refused to be drawn on whether Ducati would be exercising the option the factory has on Nicky Hayden this weekend. “I cannot tell you anything more. Not because I don’t want to, but because quite simply there is nothing to tell,” he told the German website.
While yes, Hayden’s results haven’t been close to Stoner’s, he has shown signs of improvement, and I don’t know why Suppo feels the need to “blast” his riders in public. Considering what Melandri went through last year, and Capirossi’s results in 2007 may have included a shock victory, none of their riders besides Stoner have ever really got the Ducati working for them. Yet they still feel that because Stoner can win on the bike, the second rider’s performance is not worthy and they replace him for another rider all for history to repeat itself again…
Also, seeing as Lorenzo turned down a massive sum of money from Ducati to stay with his Fiat Yamaha team, and Capirossi chose to stay with his Suzuki team instead of returning, Ducati are going to be pretty hard pressed to find a new rider if they feel Hayden isn’t part of their 2010 plans. Pedrosa may be “talking” with the team, but whether that bears fruition is anybody’s guess.
Nicky Hayden reckons he’s not letting the constant speculation surrounding who Ducati might sign in 2010 worry him ahead of this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP race.
Ducati has already tried and failed to clinch a big money swoop on Jorge Lorenzo and Italian veteran Loris Capirossi also turned down the Bologna factory before he signed a new Suzuki deal.
It was revealed in Indianapolis too that Ducati was also in pursuit of Dani Pedrosa with the Spaniard still not having committed himself to a new two-year Honda contract.
All have been linked with taking Hayden’s ride but the 2006 world champion said he was unfazed by all the constant talk linking him with the axe.
Hayden, who will find out whether he will be retained by Ducati during next weekend’s San Marino MotoGP clash in Misano, said: “I’ve been in this game long enough and like it or not, MotoGP is a business.
“And if you look at the result sheets, maybe my results wouldn’t be good enough. They’ve (Ducati) got sponsors and people to please.
“I realise that I probably made some hard phone calls on Monday with some of them 12th places. Do I like it? No, because when I look in the mirror, I see why they need to bring somebody else in because I haven’t got the results.
“So that hurts when it’s on the inside. But that’s the business and they’ve got to do what they feel best.
“I don’t know if just bringing in new guys every year is the right thing and the best way to fix the situation. So we’ll see what happens.
“I still got this challenge and really feel like we can do it and I’m not ready to give up just yet.
“So we’ll see what happens. Do I get my feelings hurt? No, I’m not that big a sissy.”
Hayden even joked about his situation when talking about the rumoured £7m-a-year offered to tempt Lorenzo away from Yamaha. “If they make me that offer they made Lorenzo, then all things will be forgotten.
“Eight million a year will patch things up pretty easy, so we’ll be good,“ laughed the Kentucky rider.
Source: MCN
