MotoGP: Hayden on His New Bike.
Michael Scott | September 24, 2016
Hayden acquitted himself well to the new Honda.
2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden made a MotoGP return at Aragon, in place of injury victim Jack Miller. Currently campaigning with success in World Superbikes, Hayden was impressed by the upgrade to the machinery compared with his Open spec Honda of last year.
There are many changes, apart from the switch to Michelin tires and control electronics.
The biggest improvement was acceleration, he said. The power delivery was smoother, and combined with the seamless gearbox, “acceleration is incredible … bang, bang, bang, going through the gears.”
Hayden was the last to win a World Championship on Michelins, but he found that more than 10 years later there was little comparison. His comments echoed those of all riders when they made the switch from Bridgestones – the rear tire was beyond reproach, but the front took a lot of getting used to.
After the first day, he said: “I don’t feel good with it. I need that bit of information to tell me where the limit is.” A lack of warning has been a constant complaint from MotoGP regulars.
Hayden was one of several riders to crash with front-end wash-outs during practice, and he eventually qualified 19th.
