Nicky Hayden - MotoGP Racing

Nicky Hayden

American rider, Nicky Hayden is one of three World Championship title holders on the MotoGP grid in 2010. He arrived in MotoGP with Honda after claiming the AMA Suberbike Championship in 2002. His first season in the premier class had him teamed up with legendary racer and 6 time world champion, Valentino Rossi. Debuting side-by-side with someone of Rossi's caliber did not thwart Hayden or his desire to win. That first season, he finished a very respectable 5th overall. During the next year, Hayden struggled with a lack of consistency and slipped down the ranks to finish 8th over all.

2005 saw the return of Laguna Seca to the MotoGP roster, a track that Nicky was very familiar with. His first MotoGP win came that year on that track, and rifled Hayden into being a serious competitor for the crown. Five more podium finishes earned him third place in the overall standings, setting him up for his World Championship title win the following year.

2007 ushered in the new class of 800cc MotoGP bikes, and ushered out Hayden's title. He suffered several crashes that year as he struggled for compatability with the RC212V sliding down the standings into 8th by year's end. Things began to improve for him in 2008 as he finished out his contract with Repsol Honda collecting a pair of podiums and finishing 6th for the season.

In 2009 Nicky joined the Marlboro Ducati camp and teamed up with fellow former World Champion Casey Stoner in attempts to run-down defending World Champion Valentino Rossi and reclaim the crown. Nicky wrestled with his unruly Ducati throughout the year, proving the rumors of the tricky machine to be warranted. His best and only podium finish came at Indianapolis where he crossed the line in 3rd. At seasons' end, he seemed to be finally getting a handle on it, winding down with a pair of 5th place finishes, and some much needed hope for 2010 as he continues to ride for Marlboro Ducati.