Hayden expects Mugello test
Added on Thursday, May 29th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Hayden: Tough time in MotoGP so far this season
Nicky Hayden believes that Mugello will provide his toughest test of the season as he looks to climb the MotoGP championship this weekend.
The former world champion, who won the last championship in the 990cc era, has struggled with the drop down to 800cc and currently lies in seventh in the championship, 57 points behind Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa.
And Hayden believes that whilst Mugello is a good place to start his revival, he faces a difficult task on one of the calendar’s most demanding circuits.
“Mugello will be another hard one, because right now we’re missing a bit - we know it’s there, we’ve just got to put it all together,” said the American.
But whatever happens, the Repsol Honda rider will be enjoying his rollercoaster ride through the Tuscan countryside.
“Mugello is awesome - one of the best races of the year, the atmosphere is unique,” said the 2006 world champion. “The big front straightaway looks easy on TV but when you’re in the saddle it’s got a little kink in it over a rise. The wheels are off the ground through there, so you can’t be leaning too much or sawing on the ‘bars!
“The track has got lots of chicanes, though they’re fast chicanes, not the little Mickey Mouse go-kart chicanes you see at other tracks, they’re quite quick switchbacks. There’s also a lot of elevation changes and a few downhill corners that are tricky so you need a front end with feeling, you’ve got to trust the front end a lot. The surface is getting well used, quite bumpy and abrasive.”
