Share

MotoGP Q&A: Nicky Hayden

Dieter Rencken chats to  Nicky Hayden at the 2011 Wroom conference and finds out about the MotoGP star’s thoughts on the upcoming season as well as racing alongside Valentino Rossi at Ducati.

Q: Nicky, how do you feel your career has progressed at Ducati and what are your hopes for the season?

A:
It’s gotten better and better since I’ve been on this team and on this bike. I feel like we’ve grown a lot, and the bike has improved, and my relationship with the team has gotten better, the communication. So, obviously we did a big step from the first year to the second, and I would like to do the same next year. So we’re in a positive way – we know we have a good bike, and a good team, so let’s see what we can do when it starts. We’ve got some big tests coming up, and obviously want to make some tweaks, but we have a good package.

Q: Are you technically satisfied with the way things are moving forward? Do you feel that it’s going to be as competitive as usual this year?

A: Oh yeah, I mean… Obviously at the end of last year the bike improved a bit, Casey Stoner obviously won some races. I mean, the last race of the year we were 1-2 so we know we’ve got a good bike, but obviously we want to improve, as I’m sure everybody does. But we have a couple of ideas. I was in Bologna yesterday, in the morning, speaking with some engineers, and they’re… Got to hammer down, working hard, so… It’s not like we have a radically different bike, because like I said I don’t think we need that, but certainly we got a few areas we want to improve on. The rider needs to do his part, improve some. I’m excited to get on the bike. We wait till the end of the month, actually February 1st. That’s the first time we get a real crack at it in Malaysia. (we have) A lot of work to do between now and then. You get prepared, you get ready, but we’re all excited.

Q: How do you think the co-operation with Valentino Rossi will go? Have you discussed much with him?

A: You know, not too much. I mean, for the most part, from what I know so far, a lot of his comments are very similar to what I think, so in some ways I’m looking forward to having his information, his feedback. He’s been around a long time, with a lot of experience, and he’s no fool. You know, he knows what he’s doing, so hopefully his experience, and him, and his team, his guys, can help make our bike better. When I was in Bologna last month, his guys were there building the bikes when I was there, and the relationship between his team and my team felt pretty good, so I look forward to having his input. We’ll see how it goes as things move on and obviously he’s going to want some changes, but for the most part I see it as a positive.

Q: During the 2010 season Casey Stoner had some trouble with the front end and he crashed a couple of times. It didn’t seem like you had the same problem, what’s the real situation?

A: Yeah, for sure that’s one of the places we want to improve, is make the front better. [For front feeling] Casey found a few problems, and also I was on the ground quite a bit this (last) year, more than I think I’ve ever crashed in a season in my life, eleven times, so (we will) try to cut down on that a bit, get the front to understand it more, where we can find the feeling and have a bit more cushion there, so when it is pushing you understand it and it’s not too late. Also our bikes, sometimes we struggle for turn in, especially off the brakes, so we got some ideas we’re going to try in Malaysia to hopefully not just improve front end feeling and feedback, but also to make the bike steer better, turn better, particularly with the brake off. A lot of times we struggled in corners last year where we closed the throttle and not actually used the front brake to hold the front, it didn’t steer so well, so that’s one area for sure.

Q: You say Valentino had some similar comments to you; did you have a chance to discuss the bike with him at all, in Valencia or here? Do you expect to discuss the ins and outs of it with Valentino?

A: We spoke a bit. I mean, we didn’t sit down, close the doors, and have a full-on board meeting, or anything, but you know, just some general talk about little things with the bike. It felt like quite an open relationship, and nothing different than I’ve really had with Valentino last time, or any other teammate, so it’s pretty normal chatter really.

Q: You said that there were a lot more engineers coming in to Ducati Corsa. Are there going to be more engineers at the track, at the garage, is that what you’re inferring?

A: I wouldn’t say necessarily a lot, but I did add one person on my side, and Ducati’s (some guys came over from the Superbike) team, so finding jobs for those guys, and also with [Karel Abraham], there’s one more Ducati next year, so a few people went, one of our guys went to help him, filling in his spot, so…as the bikes get more advanced you need more guys.

Q: On February 1st in Sepang you said you’ve got lots of things to test, obviously, quite a test. Are you still going to be moving around between the different sized front forks? Is that something on the cards, or do you think you might be fixed on the size and diameter of front forks?

A: I think we’re pretty fixed on the size.

Q: And what diameter might that be?

A: We ended the season on the 2011 forks.

Q: You mean the Valencia fork?

A: Yeah.

Q: What advice would you give to Karel Abraham of his change to MotoGP, and more so as a Ducati rider?

A: I’m not really… I’m no coach, so I’m probably not going to be able to help him out too much, but… It’s a big step, but Abraham, you know, he showed a lot at the end of last season. I mean, Motegi, to get on the podium there, in a last lap fight with, I think it was de Angelis, that’s not easy. And even Valencia, he certainly… You know, it will be interesting to see how he goes, and sometimes, you know… He don’t have a lot of experience, but he seems quick. Obviously the testing, I’d say take advantage of the off-season as much as you can. Learn the bike, learn the team, learn the way. See how he goes – he definitely will be a bit of a wild card. See if he can make that step. He definitely showed a lot at the end of last year, so see what he can do.

Q: Engine specs, the big bang and the screamer: At one time there wasn’t a final decision about which engine you’d run this year. Has that decision now been taken, or will you still be experimenting in Malaysia?

A: I think we’ll have both options in Malaysia, but the plan is to go with the big bang. I mean, in Valencia that’s mainly what I rode the whole time. The screamer has some advantages in places, but you’ve got to find what’s best over 18 different races, 18 different conditions, and different tracks. At the moment we think it’ll probably be big bang.

Q: Apart from Valentino, who do you think could be your hardest rival out there?

A: I mean, just start at the top. There’s really no slackers in MotoGP, I mean, you know the guy right now, it’s Lorenzo, he’s the guy with the title, so… But you go down the list, really. I mean, they’re all solid, they’re all players, none of them sleep on nobody, so that’s why I love MotoGP. I know that it’s going to be a big challenge this year, so I’m not going to start singling out any of the hardest rivals, because like I say they’re all contenders.
 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()