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MotoGP
MOTOGP: Lame Duck
Will there still be a place for Nicky Hayden at Ducati Corse once the dust clears? Is it possible that he might be better off if there isn't?
Ducati Team's Nicky Hayden (Photo: Ducati Corse)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix from Laguna Seca will air on SPEED on Sunday, July 29th at 6:00pm ET. Qualifying will air on SPEED on Saturday, July 28 at 11:00pm ET and free practice will air on SPEED2 Friday, July 27 at 5:10pm ET. #MotoGPonSPEED
Following several relatively quiet seasons, it's become all too easy to forget exactly what Nicky Hayden brings to the table beyond just his trademark wide smile and sponsor-pleasing attitude.
Make no mistake, Hayden is a seriously talented motorbike rider. He's no alien but he's one of only a very few select men capable of bagging aliens when given the proper weaponry to do so.
Give the man a strong bike that suits his talents and he's a regular podium finisher -- one who can even steal a win on rare occasion, and even a World Championship if the conditions are just perfect.
However, overshadowed by the continued struggles of his massively credentialed teammate, Valentino Rossi (who Hayden has largely outperformed this season), and lost in the shuffle to clutch onto the 'next big thing' (even if that next big thing is still looking for a maiden podium a year-and-a-half on while Hayden has yet to go a season without scoring at least one podium result), Hayden's future in the sport has been brought into question.
A loyal soldier to Ducati despite their embarrassing technical woes in recent seasons, the company did not repay that loyality in return when Hayden was told any negotiations concerning an extension would have to be put on hold until after the Audi/Ducati deal was solidified only to find out that numbers were in fact being crunched in the attempt to secure the services of both Rossi and Cal Crutchlow, the latter being offered a two-year deal (with the intention that he'd assume Hayden's spot as Ducati worked overtime behind the scenes to convince Rossi to give them another chance).
Hayden was stuck in a holding pattern and looking increasingly like the odd man out with few decent fallback options waiting for him in MotoGP… at least until Ben Spies' bombshell announcement that he was voluntarily exiting the works Yamaha team.
As a result, the dominos may have shifted back in Hayden's favor and recent whispers suggest he's now likely to continue on with Ducati.
The American and his legion of fans can breathe a bit easier. But should they?
Ducati's struggles -- and more importantly, lack of any real signs of improvement -- have been both baffling and humbling. The reputation of the proud firm has absorbed a tremendous blow as the Italian dream combination of Rossi and Ducati has proven to be a nightmare instead as the beautiful red bike has rendered the racing god not just a mere mortal, but something of an also-ran.
Following several relatively quiet seasons, it's become all too easy to forget exactly what Nicky Hayden brings to the table beyond just his trademark wide smile and sponsor-pleasing attitude.
Make no mistake, Hayden is a seriously talented motorbike rider. He's no alien but he's one of only a very few select men capable of bagging aliens when given the proper weaponry to do so.
Give the man a strong bike that suits his talents and he's a regular podium finisher -- one who can even steal a win on rare occasion, and even a World Championship if the conditions are just perfect.
However, overshadowed by the continued struggles of his massively credentialed teammate, Valentino Rossi (who Hayden has largely outperformed this season), and lost in the shuffle to clutch onto the 'next big thing' (even if that next big thing is still looking for a maiden podium a year-and-a-half on while Hayden has yet to go a season without scoring at least one podium result), Hayden's future in the sport has been brought into question.
A loyal soldier to Ducati despite their embarrassing technical woes in recent seasons, the company did not repay that loyality in return when Hayden was told any negotiations concerning an extension would have to be put on hold until after the Audi/Ducati deal was solidified only to find out that numbers were in fact being crunched in the attempt to secure the services of both Rossi and Cal Crutchlow, the latter being offered a two-year deal (with the intention that he'd assume Hayden's spot as Ducati worked overtime behind the scenes to convince Rossi to give them another chance).
Hayden was stuck in a holding pattern and looking increasingly like the odd man out with few decent fallback options waiting for him in MotoGP… at least until Ben Spies' bombshell announcement that he was voluntarily exiting the works Yamaha team.
As a result, the dominos may have shifted back in Hayden's favor and recent whispers suggest he's now likely to continue on with Ducati.
The American and his legion of fans can breathe a bit easier. But should they?
Ducati's struggles -- and more importantly, lack of any real signs of improvement -- have been both baffling and humbling. The reputation of the proud firm has absorbed a tremendous blow as the Italian dream combination of Rossi and Ducati has proven to be a nightmare instead as the beautiful red bike has rendered the racing god not just a mere mortal, but something of an also-ran.
Grand Prix of The France
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