A piece written for Nicky Hayden
04-17-2006, 08:55 PM
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A piece written for Nicky Hayden
Saw this on my local board(dcsb)..great stuff.
MotoGP: Nick Hayden—Rising Like The Japanese Sun.
In Defense of The Kentucky Kid
by toby hirst
Monday, April 17, 2006 I love reading what the fans have to say, positive or not. We are all entitled to our own opinion. However, there seems to be a slight imbalance with regards to Nick Hayden.
I'm not sure why, but it's baffling.
So, in response to the doubters, here's my take on the man. From rookie to podium owner, to playing the role of David, versus the Grand Prix Goliath, Rossi.
MotoGP is a tough place to ply your trade, so to see Nick Hayden's stock rising of late is a real delight for all the race fans out there. Watching the American finally rise like a phoenix from the Rossi/Burgess ashes at Honda is refreshing, as is seeing Pedrosa, Stoner, Elias et al, performing well.
Basically, HRC pried Hayden from underneath the nose of Yamaha prior to the 2003 MotoGP season, and Hayden was slung into the melting pot that is a Honda factory ride. He moved from the production based US Superbike series (which he won in 2002) and onto a stage some would say takes a brave man. Hayden rode out of his leathers to finish runner-up to Valentino Rossi in Qatar recording his sixth consecutive podium finish. But, apparently, that still isn't good enough for his detractors.
After two full-seasons in the premier class, the knife-slingers were there at the end of the '04 season, sticking the blade of negative opinion between his shoulder blades. "Get him out of there", came the cry from the 'cynic city' residents. Same again following last season. "Nicky can only win at Laguna", came the cry.
Apparently, sitting in the golden seat—riding a Repsol sponsored works HRC bike -- should mean instant and prolonged success, multiple victories and a world title, so say the comment mongers. But, that is not realistic, in my view.
When you follow in the footsteps of road racing gods like Mick Doohan (Criville on the Doohan developed bike) and none other than Valentino Rossi, it's no easy ticket. With the stranglehold of HRC politics, no clear development path post-Rossi and Burgess, the Biaggi debacle, and with Gibernau and others gone because of those hard-faced politics, for me, that means the expectation for success is far too great.
Basically, HRC pried Hayden from underneath the nose of Yamaha prior to the 2003 MotoGP season, and Hayden was slung into the melting pot that is a Honda factory ride. He moved from the production based US Superbike series (which he won in 2002) and onto a stage some would say takes a brave man.
When you throw on a Repsol shirt, you don't just turn up at race meetings and stick your feet up in hospitality. Your life changes. You don't just work a nine-month season, just doing enough to get another contract for the following campaign. You are on call all year round, no rest, and don't you dare forget to crack that corporate smile wherever you go. The Japanese expect nothing less. You are 'their man'.
That is a part of the reason why Rossi debunked to Yamaha; too much control, a stifling atmosphere—not enough room to breathe.
Hayden, like others before him, has clocked up tens of thousands of air miles as an HRC employee. The US one week, Japan the next, Australia and Europe—you name it. Bike launches, photo-shoots, personal appearances, promotional gigs, the list goes on.
And, that's not counting actually doing your job, riding MotoGP. Hell, even when you get a week off to fly home for some R&R you are followed by the media to your local motocross track or to the gym for comment, and, before you can blink, you are on another plane, going back to 'work'.
An excuse fest? No, just the reality of life under the microscope at the highest level.
When Hayden entered the elite class, he had to look across the garage at a legend. Valentino Rossi was all conquering, with crew chief extraordinaire Jeremy Burgess in his corner, the Italian riding the latest 'souped-up' (pardon the pun) RC211V, and with full technical support from HRC Japan. Rossi was—and still is—the face of MotoGP.
Hayden was the kid from the countryside, learning to cope with the pressure of the Grand Prix paddock, honing his skills at fronting a manic press corp, and riding (arguably) the finest prototype racing machine ever produced, on highly evolved tires. Still, the expectation from the win hungry came: "When the hell will Nicky win?"
It's a crazy situation to be in when you are told to get on the sister factory bike and get Rossi's back from the off. It was a learning year for Nick, both on and off track, but many didn't see it like that. He finished a respectable fifth in the world championship order, beaten out by four veterans—Rossi, Gibernau, Biaggi and Capirossi—no mean feat.
Then came 2004. Rossi and Burgess had departed in a shock move to Japanese rivals Yamaha. Rossi had impressed in pre-season with the evolutionary YZR-M1, and HRC (with a big elbow from Repsol) had decided the answer was veteran, Alex Barros.
Not only did that move not work, HRC were lost, the cracks were visible, and it showed. Rossi was winning the war -- and Honda knew it.
Hayden, however, would ride again, and the mighty red machine wanted Rossi's blood. So, when Rossi went and made history by winning in South Africa (laughing into his visor post-race) at the '04 season opener, Hayden was asked the impossible; beat Rossi and take your lead from Barros and Gibernau, who were developing the bike.
A new chassis was introduced, as was the revised inverted swinging arm and engine management electronics. Which rear-linkage suited which rear tire best? Gibernau refused the upgrades at Brno; Barros took them, as he did the new exhaust at the Sachsenring. Not much success followed, and the now infamous 'chatter' was plaguing many. The new bigger footprint from the rear Michelin seemed to perplex the engineers and riders alike, Edwards for one was finding it tough going.
Nick Hayden was playing the support role, trying his own variation on the development theme within his own set-up, concentrating on matching his sliding style with the new tires. The American was struggling, Barros was too, and only Sete Gibernau looked likely to give Honda any hope of a challenge to Rossi and co.
HRC was on the back-foot. Rossi and the Yamaha engineers were schooling their Honda counterparts, whilst Hayden was simply getting his head down, best he could. Still not good enough, though, for the 'want a win posse'.
Politics, yet again, started playing their part. Hayden arrived at Sepang to find half his crew had been sacked, the rumors of Biaggi joining him for '05 were doing the rounds, and Nick had to just get on with it; a quagmire indeed, and gone were the notions that Repsol Honda was the place to be.
He didn't look happy with his surroundings, but in only his second season, he was at least consistent, and his sector times were some of the best on track at many of the circuits. The thing that eluded Nicky was the linking of all of those sectors for an ultimately fast lap time, over a race distance. He finished the year down in eighth place, 117 points scored, with just two podiums to his name -- in Brazil and Germany. You could see his pain.
Gibernau tried his best against Rossi, Biaggi showed flashes of brilliance, Barros gave it his all, but it seemed a little disjointed at Honda. Hayden looked a product of his tools, and he wasn't the only one. The final championship standings don't tell the whole story.
2005 saw change, of sorts, but, again, it didn't help; it only worsened the developmental situation. The enigma that is Max Biaggi arrived at Repsol Honda, and Nick was once again thrown in at the deep end. A clash in pit-lane at the Sepang winter test was the start of an acrimonious relationship between the factory pairing.
It was supposed to be a new dawn for Repsol Honda. Changes in management, the departure of Doohan, Erv in Max's corner, but none of it helped early on in the season.
Just who was developing the bike? Gibernau didn't know. Sete was given assurances he was involved, but the Spaniard seemed unsure. His 2005 season was a disaster. Biaggi's year was laden with moaning and whinging -- issues with his bike and the team.
There was, however, a turn of fortune for Honda as we moved into the second half of the season. The youngsters—Hayden and Melandri—were showing the old guard a thing or two. The future suddenly looked to be in safe hands. The mist finally looked to be clearing, and about time too. Faith in the kids was paying off.
Hayden won at Laguna Seca, the first US GP for a decade. Nicky dominated all weekend, but still faced the mirth of the detractors. Of course he knew the track, what the hell did anyone expect? He's ridden the circuit more times than any of the opposition, Edwards aside.
On the day, the man won the race, not the bike. Rossi does it all the time, but Rossi is a freak of nature. Nicky had his reward; he was 'king for a day'. To be king again, you have to beat Rossi. Not easy, especially when Rossi holds the mental edge over ALL of the riders on the grid.
Even with Hayden and Melandri showing their class, Yamaha were romping away with it, relatively speaking. Rossi, seemingly, was winning at will with Edwards playing back-up, landing Yamaha the constructor's title, Gauloises Yamaha the team trophy, as well as Rossi taking his fifth senior class series win. A clean sweep.
That said, Hayden was winning his own personal battle. Last season ended with Nicky on a charge, four consecutive podiums cementing third place in the championship, just a whisker back of another young gun—Melandri. But, still, Rossi won it by 147 points. Honda may have finished the year with five riders inside the top ten, but so they should with seven bikes on the grid. It was Hayden and Melandri that saved face for HRC.
Although some opinion-heads claim Hayden is nothing more than a Laguna specialist, and not quite the complete package, I say wake-up and take a closer look. If you take the brilliance of Rossi out of the equation, Hayden would arguably have won two of the last six races -- Phillip Island at the back-end of 2005, and in Qatar last time out.
And, even when Rossi didn't win last year, it took almost god-like form from Melandri during the run-in last season to stop the former team-mates—Hayden and Rossi. That's how close #69 was, and is.
2006 has arrived, and the kid is rolling hot. Jerez was a great test, and Nicky passed with flying colors on a bike Honda is pinning its hopes on, for this season anyway. He's got a supremely talented team-mate in Pedrosa, and he needs that.
Piloting what can only be described as a lab-bike in the desert, (Qatar) the performance has to go down as heroic. If Nick can find a competitive set-up for his evo-machine, and find a front and rear tire combination that suits the works Honda, then that elusive second win of his career could be on the cards in Turkey. I wouldn't put it past him.
Going up against Rossi, and beating the man, is as tough a task as the San Francisco 49ers face in winning the Superbowl this season. Just look where the second Yamaha finished in Qatar!
It's the Rossi factor they all have to face, and, at present, Hayden is as close as anybody to putting a ***** in the Italian's armor. When Rossi can win a race from adversity like he did at the Losail Circuit, then he truly is the master. That's the mountain all of his rivals face. So to say Hayden is a journeyman only, is utter crap. He's close, and Rossi knows it.
We often get accused of being 'over patriotic', here at 'Soup (although I'm a Brit) but I prefer to believe it's well founded support. Should we single a rider out for praise? Hell yes, why not. This ain't no press release love-in.
Ultimately, if you race for Honda, you know the score—you are owned. But, it takes a big man to loosen the shackles and go impress on track. Nick Hayden is doing just that. Credit where credit is due, no favoritism—he's getting the job done. Its early days in '06 (Rossi down at Jerez) but Repsol Honda lead the team standings and Hayden is second in the rider's championship.
The Kentucky kid has done good and there's more to come. Nick Hayden is rising like the Japanese sun.
Just one more opinion for you to consider:
The Grand Prix of Turkey takes place on April 30th, covered in full, here, on Superbikeplanet.com.
MotoGP: Nick Hayden—Rising Like The Japanese Sun.
In Defense of The Kentucky Kid
by toby hirst
Monday, April 17, 2006 I love reading what the fans have to say, positive or not. We are all entitled to our own opinion. However, there seems to be a slight imbalance with regards to Nick Hayden.
I'm not sure why, but it's baffling.
So, in response to the doubters, here's my take on the man. From rookie to podium owner, to playing the role of David, versus the Grand Prix Goliath, Rossi.
MotoGP is a tough place to ply your trade, so to see Nick Hayden's stock rising of late is a real delight for all the race fans out there. Watching the American finally rise like a phoenix from the Rossi/Burgess ashes at Honda is refreshing, as is seeing Pedrosa, Stoner, Elias et al, performing well.
Basically, HRC pried Hayden from underneath the nose of Yamaha prior to the 2003 MotoGP season, and Hayden was slung into the melting pot that is a Honda factory ride. He moved from the production based US Superbike series (which he won in 2002) and onto a stage some would say takes a brave man. Hayden rode out of his leathers to finish runner-up to Valentino Rossi in Qatar recording his sixth consecutive podium finish. But, apparently, that still isn't good enough for his detractors.
After two full-seasons in the premier class, the knife-slingers were there at the end of the '04 season, sticking the blade of negative opinion between his shoulder blades. "Get him out of there", came the cry from the 'cynic city' residents. Same again following last season. "Nicky can only win at Laguna", came the cry.
Apparently, sitting in the golden seat—riding a Repsol sponsored works HRC bike -- should mean instant and prolonged success, multiple victories and a world title, so say the comment mongers. But, that is not realistic, in my view.
When you follow in the footsteps of road racing gods like Mick Doohan (Criville on the Doohan developed bike) and none other than Valentino Rossi, it's no easy ticket. With the stranglehold of HRC politics, no clear development path post-Rossi and Burgess, the Biaggi debacle, and with Gibernau and others gone because of those hard-faced politics, for me, that means the expectation for success is far too great.
Basically, HRC pried Hayden from underneath the nose of Yamaha prior to the 2003 MotoGP season, and Hayden was slung into the melting pot that is a Honda factory ride. He moved from the production based US Superbike series (which he won in 2002) and onto a stage some would say takes a brave man.
When you throw on a Repsol shirt, you don't just turn up at race meetings and stick your feet up in hospitality. Your life changes. You don't just work a nine-month season, just doing enough to get another contract for the following campaign. You are on call all year round, no rest, and don't you dare forget to crack that corporate smile wherever you go. The Japanese expect nothing less. You are 'their man'.
That is a part of the reason why Rossi debunked to Yamaha; too much control, a stifling atmosphere—not enough room to breathe.
Hayden, like others before him, has clocked up tens of thousands of air miles as an HRC employee. The US one week, Japan the next, Australia and Europe—you name it. Bike launches, photo-shoots, personal appearances, promotional gigs, the list goes on.
And, that's not counting actually doing your job, riding MotoGP. Hell, even when you get a week off to fly home for some R&R you are followed by the media to your local motocross track or to the gym for comment, and, before you can blink, you are on another plane, going back to 'work'.
An excuse fest? No, just the reality of life under the microscope at the highest level.
When Hayden entered the elite class, he had to look across the garage at a legend. Valentino Rossi was all conquering, with crew chief extraordinaire Jeremy Burgess in his corner, the Italian riding the latest 'souped-up' (pardon the pun) RC211V, and with full technical support from HRC Japan. Rossi was—and still is—the face of MotoGP.
Hayden was the kid from the countryside, learning to cope with the pressure of the Grand Prix paddock, honing his skills at fronting a manic press corp, and riding (arguably) the finest prototype racing machine ever produced, on highly evolved tires. Still, the expectation from the win hungry came: "When the hell will Nicky win?"
It's a crazy situation to be in when you are told to get on the sister factory bike and get Rossi's back from the off. It was a learning year for Nick, both on and off track, but many didn't see it like that. He finished a respectable fifth in the world championship order, beaten out by four veterans—Rossi, Gibernau, Biaggi and Capirossi—no mean feat.
Then came 2004. Rossi and Burgess had departed in a shock move to Japanese rivals Yamaha. Rossi had impressed in pre-season with the evolutionary YZR-M1, and HRC (with a big elbow from Repsol) had decided the answer was veteran, Alex Barros.
Not only did that move not work, HRC were lost, the cracks were visible, and it showed. Rossi was winning the war -- and Honda knew it.
Hayden, however, would ride again, and the mighty red machine wanted Rossi's blood. So, when Rossi went and made history by winning in South Africa (laughing into his visor post-race) at the '04 season opener, Hayden was asked the impossible; beat Rossi and take your lead from Barros and Gibernau, who were developing the bike.
A new chassis was introduced, as was the revised inverted swinging arm and engine management electronics. Which rear-linkage suited which rear tire best? Gibernau refused the upgrades at Brno; Barros took them, as he did the new exhaust at the Sachsenring. Not much success followed, and the now infamous 'chatter' was plaguing many. The new bigger footprint from the rear Michelin seemed to perplex the engineers and riders alike, Edwards for one was finding it tough going.
Nick Hayden was playing the support role, trying his own variation on the development theme within his own set-up, concentrating on matching his sliding style with the new tires. The American was struggling, Barros was too, and only Sete Gibernau looked likely to give Honda any hope of a challenge to Rossi and co.
HRC was on the back-foot. Rossi and the Yamaha engineers were schooling their Honda counterparts, whilst Hayden was simply getting his head down, best he could. Still not good enough, though, for the 'want a win posse'.
Politics, yet again, started playing their part. Hayden arrived at Sepang to find half his crew had been sacked, the rumors of Biaggi joining him for '05 were doing the rounds, and Nick had to just get on with it; a quagmire indeed, and gone were the notions that Repsol Honda was the place to be.
He didn't look happy with his surroundings, but in only his second season, he was at least consistent, and his sector times were some of the best on track at many of the circuits. The thing that eluded Nicky was the linking of all of those sectors for an ultimately fast lap time, over a race distance. He finished the year down in eighth place, 117 points scored, with just two podiums to his name -- in Brazil and Germany. You could see his pain.
Gibernau tried his best against Rossi, Biaggi showed flashes of brilliance, Barros gave it his all, but it seemed a little disjointed at Honda. Hayden looked a product of his tools, and he wasn't the only one. The final championship standings don't tell the whole story.
2005 saw change, of sorts, but, again, it didn't help; it only worsened the developmental situation. The enigma that is Max Biaggi arrived at Repsol Honda, and Nick was once again thrown in at the deep end. A clash in pit-lane at the Sepang winter test was the start of an acrimonious relationship between the factory pairing.
It was supposed to be a new dawn for Repsol Honda. Changes in management, the departure of Doohan, Erv in Max's corner, but none of it helped early on in the season.
Just who was developing the bike? Gibernau didn't know. Sete was given assurances he was involved, but the Spaniard seemed unsure. His 2005 season was a disaster. Biaggi's year was laden with moaning and whinging -- issues with his bike and the team.
There was, however, a turn of fortune for Honda as we moved into the second half of the season. The youngsters—Hayden and Melandri—were showing the old guard a thing or two. The future suddenly looked to be in safe hands. The mist finally looked to be clearing, and about time too. Faith in the kids was paying off.
Hayden won at Laguna Seca, the first US GP for a decade. Nicky dominated all weekend, but still faced the mirth of the detractors. Of course he knew the track, what the hell did anyone expect? He's ridden the circuit more times than any of the opposition, Edwards aside.
On the day, the man won the race, not the bike. Rossi does it all the time, but Rossi is a freak of nature. Nicky had his reward; he was 'king for a day'. To be king again, you have to beat Rossi. Not easy, especially when Rossi holds the mental edge over ALL of the riders on the grid.
Even with Hayden and Melandri showing their class, Yamaha were romping away with it, relatively speaking. Rossi, seemingly, was winning at will with Edwards playing back-up, landing Yamaha the constructor's title, Gauloises Yamaha the team trophy, as well as Rossi taking his fifth senior class series win. A clean sweep.
That said, Hayden was winning his own personal battle. Last season ended with Nicky on a charge, four consecutive podiums cementing third place in the championship, just a whisker back of another young gun—Melandri. But, still, Rossi won it by 147 points. Honda may have finished the year with five riders inside the top ten, but so they should with seven bikes on the grid. It was Hayden and Melandri that saved face for HRC.
Although some opinion-heads claim Hayden is nothing more than a Laguna specialist, and not quite the complete package, I say wake-up and take a closer look. If you take the brilliance of Rossi out of the equation, Hayden would arguably have won two of the last six races -- Phillip Island at the back-end of 2005, and in Qatar last time out.
And, even when Rossi didn't win last year, it took almost god-like form from Melandri during the run-in last season to stop the former team-mates—Hayden and Rossi. That's how close #69 was, and is.
2006 has arrived, and the kid is rolling hot. Jerez was a great test, and Nicky passed with flying colors on a bike Honda is pinning its hopes on, for this season anyway. He's got a supremely talented team-mate in Pedrosa, and he needs that.
Piloting what can only be described as a lab-bike in the desert, (Qatar) the performance has to go down as heroic. If Nick can find a competitive set-up for his evo-machine, and find a front and rear tire combination that suits the works Honda, then that elusive second win of his career could be on the cards in Turkey. I wouldn't put it past him.
Going up against Rossi, and beating the man, is as tough a task as the San Francisco 49ers face in winning the Superbowl this season. Just look where the second Yamaha finished in Qatar!
It's the Rossi factor they all have to face, and, at present, Hayden is as close as anybody to putting a ***** in the Italian's armor. When Rossi can win a race from adversity like he did at the Losail Circuit, then he truly is the master. That's the mountain all of his rivals face. So to say Hayden is a journeyman only, is utter crap. He's close, and Rossi knows it.
We often get accused of being 'over patriotic', here at 'Soup (although I'm a Brit) but I prefer to believe it's well founded support. Should we single a rider out for praise? Hell yes, why not. This ain't no press release love-in.
Ultimately, if you race for Honda, you know the score—you are owned. But, it takes a big man to loosen the shackles and go impress on track. Nick Hayden is doing just that. Credit where credit is due, no favoritism—he's getting the job done. Its early days in '06 (Rossi down at Jerez) but Repsol Honda lead the team standings and Hayden is second in the rider's championship.
The Kentucky kid has done good and there's more to come. Nick Hayden is rising like the Japanese sun.
Just one more opinion for you to consider:
The Grand Prix of Turkey takes place on April 30th, covered in full, here, on Superbikeplanet.com.
04-17-2006, 09:26 PM
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Re: A piece written for Nicky Hayden (Nihonjin)
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