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xBhp catches up with 2006 MotoGP Champion and 2016 WSBK 'Rookie' Nicky Hayden.
Nicky spoke to us after the pre-season test held at Phillip Island and a few days before the first race of the season in Australia. This is the first season for him in WSBK on board a Honda CBR 1000RR with the Ten Kate team. Last year he was acknowledged as a MotoGP Legend as moved to the production bike series.
xBhp will also be present at Phillip Island this weekend to cover the WSBK race and catch up with Nicky and the rest of the gang there! Here's what the Kentucky Kid had to say about 2016, WSBK and motorcycles!
xBhp: The move to World Superbike was it always a plan for you?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: You say that World Superbike is not a retirement plan at all. You come to the series ready to fight for top positions?
Nicky Hayden: Well of course I hope to be competitive here. I realize I have a lot to learn and these guys are specialists on these bikes, tyres. So I definitely have some stuff to learn, but yeah I believe that I can be competitive.
xBhp: What do you think about the tyres so far?
Nicky Hayden: You know I like the tyres. The grip is good with a bit more feeling. There is a bit more movement, more flex, but the actual grip is good. Phillips Island is where I had the chance to ride the bike in really hot conditions and overall the tyres are different. You got to understand them and get used to them.
xBhp: How about your teammate?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: WSBK will have some new circuits in the calendar for you. Is there one that you are particularly interested in?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Rea dominated last year. Do you think he is the guy to beat this year?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: WSBK has a new format for 2016, how do you see these changes.
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Phillip Island has been a track you loved on a MotoGP bike, how different does it feel to ride a Superbike here.
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: In MotoGP you were spectacular on the qualifiers. Will we see more of the same in WSBK?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp:Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Ten Kate has an illustrious history of racing at the top in this series. How are you getting along with your new team?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: You have a lot of experience racing bikes at the top, while your teammate is relatively inexperienced, but he has a year of WSBK under his belt. Who has the most to learn this year between the two in 2016?
Nicky Hayden: Well I would say we are quite different. Like you say I am on one end and he is on the other end, but I only need to worry about what I have to learn and not too much for him. But I think different things, I would say what we need to learn is completely opposite.
xBhp: Do you believe that the competition is fiercer in MotoGP or WSBK? And how do you find the atmosphere in the paddock.
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp:Nicky Hayden: I have been to India yes. I think it is great to get out to new countries to show motorcycle racing and seeing the sport to expand. I went there for an event and it is clear that that part of the world loves motorcycles. And also Thailand, I am very excited to race there. I went there for some PR events and they are very passionate fans, it is incredible how much they know about us and I mean another race or two in America would also be nice. But for me going to new countries, new places is nice.
xBhp: Any message you want to give to your many fans in India.
Nicky Hayden: Thanks for the support and like I said I have been there before for a PR event and it is a good country and hopefully we can go there and race. Look forward to going back and spending more time.
xBhp: After so many years of racing you are on a Honda Superbike. How does the bike feel?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Casey Stoner or Valentino Rossi, which one of the two would you want on the WSBK grid?
Nicky Hayden: Well they are both incredible talents. But I think World Superbike would love to have Valentino, he is the biggest guy in racing in my career. Having him would increase the interest and would be great to see him on the grid and part of the paddock. Of course on race day I might not like him so much. But it would be fun and I have been teammates with him twice and have a good relationship with him. Gone to the ranch sometimes and do some riding. So it would be great to see him in this series and even Casey would draw a big interest. It would be interesting to watch both these guys on these bikes. But be careful what you wish for, because I know that they are both very fast. But at the same time it would be good to see.
xBhp:Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Any chance of Suzuka this year or maybe next year?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: What keeps you motivated even after such a long racing career?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Regarding the bike, what did you miss or what would you like to improve.
Nicky Hayden: Getting off the corners, I think I need to improve that and getting more consistent with it.
xBhp: Did you have to change your riding style a lot for the CBR?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Which would be the key elements to fighting for the top positions?
Nicky Hayden: I have to qualify well and be consistent. I have watched WSBK races. I have always been a fan. This winter I watched more races to understand things and it is clear that the guys who can go fast at the end of the race are the ones that get the best results.
Photos Courtesy: Honda WSBK
Nicky spoke to us after the pre-season test held at Phillip Island and a few days before the first race of the season in Australia. This is the first season for him in WSBK on board a Honda CBR 1000RR with the Ten Kate team. Last year he was acknowledged as a MotoGP Legend as moved to the production bike series.
xBhp will also be present at Phillip Island this weekend to cover the WSBK race and catch up with Nicky and the rest of the gang there! Here's what the Kentucky Kid had to say about 2016, WSBK and motorcycles!
xBhp: The move to World Superbike was it always a plan for you?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: You say that World Superbike is not a retirement plan at all. You come to the series ready to fight for top positions?
Nicky Hayden: Well of course I hope to be competitive here. I realize I have a lot to learn and these guys are specialists on these bikes, tyres. So I definitely have some stuff to learn, but yeah I believe that I can be competitive.
xBhp: What do you think about the tyres so far?
Nicky Hayden: You know I like the tyres. The grip is good with a bit more feeling. There is a bit more movement, more flex, but the actual grip is good. Phillips Island is where I had the chance to ride the bike in really hot conditions and overall the tyres are different. You got to understand them and get used to them.
xBhp: How about your teammate?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: WSBK will have some new circuits in the calendar for you. Is there one that you are particularly interested in?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Rea dominated last year. Do you think he is the guy to beat this year?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: WSBK has a new format for 2016, how do you see these changes.
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Phillip Island has been a track you loved on a MotoGP bike, how different does it feel to ride a Superbike here.
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: In MotoGP you were spectacular on the qualifiers. Will we see more of the same in WSBK?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp:Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Ten Kate has an illustrious history of racing at the top in this series. How are you getting along with your new team?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: You have a lot of experience racing bikes at the top, while your teammate is relatively inexperienced, but he has a year of WSBK under his belt. Who has the most to learn this year between the two in 2016?
Nicky Hayden: Well I would say we are quite different. Like you say I am on one end and he is on the other end, but I only need to worry about what I have to learn and not too much for him. But I think different things, I would say what we need to learn is completely opposite.
xBhp: Do you believe that the competition is fiercer in MotoGP or WSBK? And how do you find the atmosphere in the paddock.
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp:Nicky Hayden: I have been to India yes. I think it is great to get out to new countries to show motorcycle racing and seeing the sport to expand. I went there for an event and it is clear that that part of the world loves motorcycles. And also Thailand, I am very excited to race there. I went there for some PR events and they are very passionate fans, it is incredible how much they know about us and I mean another race or two in America would also be nice. But for me going to new countries, new places is nice.
xBhp: Any message you want to give to your many fans in India.
Nicky Hayden: Thanks for the support and like I said I have been there before for a PR event and it is a good country and hopefully we can go there and race. Look forward to going back and spending more time.
xBhp: After so many years of racing you are on a Honda Superbike. How does the bike feel?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Casey Stoner or Valentino Rossi, which one of the two would you want on the WSBK grid?
Nicky Hayden: Well they are both incredible talents. But I think World Superbike would love to have Valentino, he is the biggest guy in racing in my career. Having him would increase the interest and would be great to see him on the grid and part of the paddock. Of course on race day I might not like him so much. But it would be fun and I have been teammates with him twice and have a good relationship with him. Gone to the ranch sometimes and do some riding. So it would be great to see him in this series and even Casey would draw a big interest. It would be interesting to watch both these guys on these bikes. But be careful what you wish for, because I know that they are both very fast. But at the same time it would be good to see.
xBhp:Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Any chance of Suzuka this year or maybe next year?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: What keeps you motivated even after such a long racing career?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Regarding the bike, what did you miss or what would you like to improve.
Nicky Hayden: Getting off the corners, I think I need to improve that and getting more consistent with it.
xBhp: Did you have to change your riding style a lot for the CBR?
Nicky Hayden:
xBhp: Which would be the key elements to fighting for the top positions?
Nicky Hayden: I have to qualify well and be consistent. I have watched WSBK races. I have always been a fan. This winter I watched more races to understand things and it is clear that the guys who can go fast at the end of the race are the ones that get the best results.
Photos Courtesy: Honda WSBK
We hope to speak with people like this more often as well!
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