Ducati Team's Nicky Hayden (Photo: Ducati Corse)

And now a new wunderkind is set to debut in the class with the 2013 entrance of Moto2 champ Marc Marquez. The most heralded prospect since Lorenzo graduated from 250s, Marquez now follows Hayden's path, slotting in with the powerful Repsol Honda squad right from the start.

The young Spaniard was instantly rapid in his testing debut earlier this week -- a head-turning performance that had Hayden jokingly suggest -- tongue clearly in cheek -- that Marquez might require another year or two of seasoning on the undercard before he's ready for the big leagues.

A Marquez defender missed the joke and lashed out at Hayden on Twitter, suggesting that Hayden himself might need a year or two in Moto2, asking when the last time was that the American won a race.

And the fact is, it's been more than six long seasons since Hayden has stood atop the podium. And even though he maintained that nine-year podium streak until it was finally snapped this past season, it had been by the skin of his teeth as of late, notching up one third apiece in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

While not a Rossi, Stoner, or Lorenzo -- if he's supplied fully competitive equipment and everything goes exactly to plan, Hayden has the ability to not only finish on the podium, but win races -- and world championships.

However, years of getting beat down can take its toll on one's confidence and self-belief. SPEED.com asked Nicky just how important it was to remind not just the world, but himself, that he has what it takes to run at the front, no matter who else is lined up on the grid.

"It's important," he admitted. "You need to go fast sometimes. I mean, I think a top rider wants to prove it every day -- every session.

"I've got to make sure I don't ever accept getting beat every week. After a while, you get beat, you get beat, you get beat, and maybe you don't let it hurt as bad. I've got to make sure I never accept it or think, 'well, I did beat my teammate, so that's enough.' I have to make sure it hurts as bad as it ever did."





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