In a season that can be called disappointing at best, Nicky Hayden finally stood on the podium at Assen with a third place finish behind Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner. After starting 13th, the finish looks good and perhaps it signals a change for the rest of the season, which, unfortunately, is already half over. Nicky will certainly want to ride at his best in front of the U.S. fans when he appears here for the U.S. Grand Prix on July 22nd. He has a comfort level at his home track and loads of fans which may help garner a win as it has in the past, but, that’s a tall order.
Will this podium be the first of many or was it a one time fluke? The number 1 on his bike proves he has the skills but the 800cc Honda has been quite a challenge for Nicky, maybe he has the setup that will make it work. Many of us would like to see that happen.
Link: MotoGP
Honda Photo
ElectricMotorcycles.net says
I don’t think the 800cc has been a challenge for Nicky. I think it’s the Spanish money that’s been a challenge for Nicky.
chris says
SPEED neglected to air this race. they did however show the 250cc race at Assen. i think they suck for doing that. I was hoping to actually SEE Nicky’s first podium this year. not just read about it. thanks for posting this, or i’d have never known.
PigIron says
Speed didn’t carry the race because it was on CBS.
Nicky was 6 seconds back from Rossi. Although he only won a couple of races, racking up the points by being consistently in second, third, or fourth place is what won him the Championship last year.
Laguna Seca will be on CBS again this year with Kevin Schwantz announcing the race.
aaron says
I’m still amazed by the american public and press reaction to motogp since nicky came over. so he fights his way up to tenth in the championship and I start seeing references to him again. quick trivia – what is the worst performance by a reigning 500/motogp world champion? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be suprised if this is the worst season for anyone wearing the #1 plate yet.
mark says
Aaron, bear in mind that Kenny Roberts Jr is a former MotoGP world champ (back in the 500cc 2-stroke era). Each of his past few seasons has been way worse than this season has been for Hayden — because he’s not on a competitive bike. Sorry to say, but the RC212V hasn’t been very competitive this season either except for Dani Pedrosa, who’s about 50 lbs lighter than Hayden.
It was interesting hearing Hayden’s comments about how Honda came right out and admitted that they didn’t design the new bike for him, despite his standing as world champion. I have a feeling he’ll be looking to move to Ducati or Yamaha when his contract is up. I certainly would, if I were him.
aaron says
problem is, it’s not just him and pedrosa riding them, but melandri, checa, elias and nakano too. plus honda is the only team with a genuine feeder system where riders are groomed in the 250 class for motogp.
it’ll be close between roberts and hayden….roberts finished eleventh in points the year after winning the championship. of course, he didn’t have a teammate rack up double the points he did that year. (and yes, he did have a fast teammate too – the “next big thing” sete gibernau) it looks possible that nicky will also have a non works honda ahead of him in the points when the final score is tallied. of course the suzuki was crap in 2001, and the honda looks tied with yamaha for second best (not too far behind the ducati, really – despite appearances)
BTW: I’m just as down on one of my favorite riders this year. capirossi looks pathetic, when last year he was class of the field (when healthy – sete really messed him up mid season!)
personal views asaide, I was more commenting on the difference in motogp coverage this year versus last. it’s like most american outlets lost interest, even compared to several years ago when nicky was getting similar results to this season.