Nicky Hayden. Next target: victory
The Rio Grand Prix staged on the Nelson Piquet circuit, was the scenario of Nicky Haydens first podium finish of the current season.
He had started from the front row twice second in Mugello and third in Catalonia and it was third time lucky for him. In Brazil, the young North American rider had another front row start and he didnt let go this time, taking the chequered flag in third position. After a first half of the season filled with ups and downs, Hayden looks forward to the German Grand Prix with a renewed will and special enthusiasm. He hopes to keep on improving with his team and, why not, take his first victory in the World Championship.Second year with same team and team members – is it easier to ‘understand’ each other?Yea for sure. It is much easier. We all have a better understanding and can work through things faster. Your qualifying times are much better this year – is there one particular reason? Yea. I worked a lot on that winter in testing to be able to throw down one super fast lap just to hang it out for a single flyer and its helped a lot. It’s so important for me. Last year, being MotoGP year 1, the whole qualifying thing was a bit tense and sometimes it was easy to get a bit excited with the pressure. Now as a team we know what we’re doing and you can make it so much easier for yourself starting from the front than the back. But you still have to string good laps together in the race to get a result. You get points for racing and winning, not qualifying. But I dont forget that Im here to win races and not to collect front rows. In the same races last year to date you scored 40 points – this year you have scored 54 (including 2 x non finishes) does this surprise you? (up to and including Rio) Yea it does but I expect a lot of myself. With such a great bike and team things have not came easy this year, but I think we are turning the corner for some more real good results to come. If you had a magic wand and could wish for only one new bit / thing on your bike what would it be?Anything with more traction. My bike is so fast now, but if I could get one free hook up it would be extra traction. How important is for you to have a close member of the family with you when you’re away from home and at a GP?My father Earl has accompanied me for every race this year and will attend the next two at Sachsenring and Donington. Then, my mother Rose may take over for a race or two in the summer as Earl returns to the States to run his car business, ‘Second Chance Autos’ in Owensborough, Kentucky, and spend some time with my other two brothers, who race in America, and my two sisters, who are equally active. It’s real nice, just to make things more fun and parents were there in the beginning so I don’t want to forget about them now. We’ve had seven races – nine to go. How are you feeling at the near half way point? Better all the time. I hope to win a race a soon, and move up in the points and just keep learning and having fun.. Do you prefer staying at the track or in a hotel – and why?I like staying in the motorhome because its so much easier, but its nice to have a break know and again at the flyaway. Which one track of the remaining nine do you most look forward to and why? Germany because its next!!! Which one track of the remaining nine do you least look forward to and why?None of them really. I like all the tracks from here on out, except Qatar obviously as no one has ridden there yet. Are you planning anything special in the upcoming summer break?No, just go home and train hard and come back stronger.
