Nicky Hayden was talking in straight lines as always, after a terrible home race weekend at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. Another one of Michelin’s vicims, he could nothing but helplessly watch as the front row starters, Stoner and Rossi, left the Michelin men in their wake and raced off in their Bridgestone-shod machines.
“This weekend we got spanked, so we need to work hard and raise our game,” said the ‘Kentucky Kid’ after finishing fifth, and revealed that winning the race was not on their minds as the team was solely concentrating on some big improvements.
“We’re a long way off even thinking about a win,” says Hayden, who did have a positive report to give on the pneumatic valve engine that Honda had earlier this year.
“I feel like we are closer than we were. The engine is working good, but we need to work on the fuel consumption. Even today (raceday Sunday) we had to run it that little bit lean off the bottom, and that made it hard to control. It’s fast, but if we can improve it then it should help us out for the next fast tracks.”
Eighth in the standings, Nicky Hayden is currently looking out for his first podium finish of the season. His team mate, Daniel Pedrosa was out injured and thus, was unable to participate in the race.