Nick Hayden interview

[gm2]

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Dec/091213-69-interview.htm

on stoner:

His data was ...it wasn't so much he only relied on the electronics to do all the work. He really has great throttle control. He gets off the corners better. That's one of the things that surprised me. He really gets off the corners good. But for the most part, he's still about a second a lap quicker than me most places. He's faster everywhere, but one of the things early in the year that was encouraging.

I say "everywhere" but there would be parts on the track where I would always be just as fast as him, but there was a couple places on the track where I would lose a lot of time. So that kind of gave me some good confidence, knowing that if I could always fix those one areas, I would be getting closer. So I've still got to get a lot closer, but we're confident that we can close that gap. One of the things is his top speed is always quite a bit better than mine. So we're going to go back to the wind tunnel in a couple of weeks and try to improve that. Because I got no doubt we have all the same parts, same engines and stuff.

He does get off the corner better than me. But we're missing something, aerodynamics or somewhere. Because there's too big a difference.

[EvilSteve]

So, even Hayden admits that he sucks?

[ducpainter]

So, even Hayden admits that he sucks?

I wish

I sucked that bad

[koko64]

Me too.

Hayden's a real gentleman. I'd buy that guy a beer.
He gives credit when it's due and only criticizes when he has due cause (eg Pedrosa who is a special case)!!.
I hope he does well next year and hangs around Ducati long enough to ride the big bikes (1000cc) again.

[EvilSteve]

Hayden is definitely one of the good ones, he's a good person, just not up there with "the 4".

[Drunken Monkey]

Hayden's a class act. Unfortunately, that's not related to going fast.

Two things stood out in my mind:
He had a *really* unlucky season. How many first turn crashes was he involved in that weren't his fault? 4 ? 5?

Also, I found his comments about the teams sharing information so freely pretty interesting. It makes me wonder how much of the bike's set-up was coming from input from Stoner.

i.e. If they are using a set-up that helps make Stoner faster are they sharing that set up and is it not working for Hayden? It seemed like Hayden did better when Stoner was out. Then again, I'll have to double check the season stats, and it's hard to get good data when Casey's being taken out in every other race...

[superjohn]

That was a good interview. He's a humble guy and really seems like he's always working to be better. You know a lot of the riders in the field would just blame the bike and the team if they were in that position.

[kopfjäger]

Stop the purchase of your fuel on 69, to help him out this year. 

[fastwin]

At least one of the Hayden's has a ride for 2010. I too think Nicky is a class act and a hard worker. No, he's not "4 aliens" fast but he could be. I know Rossi thinks a lot of him and has said so... of course he's a class act himself.

Just hope this next year goes better for Hayden. I'd like to see him do well. Maybe his 848 replicas would sell better with a few podiums under his belt!

[desmoquattro]

Just hope this next year goes better for Hayden. I'd like to see him do well. Maybe his 848 replicas would sell better with a few podiums under his belt!

I think they sold the entire production run hours after unveiling it at Laguna.

[fastwin]

That's good to know. I'm pretty sure AMS here in Dallas has had one on the floor every time I've been in and last time I asked (which was a while ago) they hadn't sold one yet. They still have them on their website. Again, I haven't been in this month so I'm hoping they sold them all. They are cool looking scooters. I'd just wish they had made an "S" model out of it with some Ohlins boingers to make it really special. I was a little disappointed that it was a stocker with special bodywork.

Of course the new Rossi special R1 is the same, stocker with groovy bodywork. Wish Yammyhammer had made it like their 50th Anniversary R1... body work plus Ohlins and Marchesini wheels. [moto]

[desmoquattro]

I'd just wish they had made an "S" model out of it with some Ohlins boingers to make it really special. I was a little disappointed that it was a stocker with special bodywork.

Superbike Magazine in the UK had the same thought...so they made one:
http://www.superbike.co.uk/news/ducati_848s_motorcycle_test_ride_report_news_289911.html

[fastwin]

Yeah, now that's what I'm talking about! Ducati needs to build that bike! [moto]

[swampduc]

Yeah, now that's what I'm talking about! Ducati needs to build that bike! [moto]

My local dealer told me that there's virtually no profit margin on the 848, and that's why there's no S.

[fastwin]

Ouch. Wonder why there were 749 standard, dark, S and R models then. Besides the f'ed up economy I wonder what changed with their middleweight sbk? Still would like to see a factory 848S. But the mighty dollar dictates everything.