Hayden to appear at IOM TT
Added on Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Hayden to appear at IOM TT
MotoGP star Nicky Hayden has confirmed that he will attend the 2011 Isle of Man TT Races as part of the event’s Mountain Course Centenary celebrations.
The 2006 MotoGP World Champion enjoy a parade lap with five-time 2010 TT champion Ian Hutchinson and five-time Australian 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan on Wednesday 8 June and the Ducati man will also start and present the trophy for the Monster Energy Supersport Race 2, before he begins his preparation for the British MotoGP round at Silverstone on Sunday 12th June.
The charismatic American, known as the ‘Kentucky Kid’, finished on the podium in the second race of the season at Jerez following his 9th place at the opening round at Qatar.
Hayden is the youngest AMA Superbike champion in history, winning the title at the age of 21 in 2002, a year that also included victory in the Daytona 200. He moved to MotoGP in 2003, winning the Rookie of the Year title in his debut season and ending the season fifth overall.
He finished 3rd in the 2005 Championship, the year he also won his first race at Laguna Seca in the USA. He won the MotoGP Championship in 2006, clinching the title in the last race of the season at Valencia.
“I’m really looking forward to going to the Isle of Man,” claimed Hayden. “I’ve been to pretty much every kind of motorcycle race you can imagine-the Daytona 200, the Jerez MotoGP, the Anaheim Supercross, the Namur World Motocross-but I’ve never been to the Isle of Man or any other real street race. The TT is just one of those events that every race fan wants to see eventually.
“I’m a huge fan of motorcycle racing of any kind, and I feel like this one is definitely something I’m missing. People have always told me, ‘You need to go to the TT,’ and now I’m finally going to get my chance. I’m really looking forward to meeting the riders, and I want to see what they do and how they do it. I’m not sure what to expect, but I do know it takes a brave rider, which is something I respect.”
“I’m sure that TT fans will give Nicky Hayden a fantastic welcome when he visits the Isle of Man this year, added Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Development Manager of the Isle of Man Government. “His trip will be a real boost for the event and will help us increase our profile worldwide. He is one of the great names in modern motorcycle racing and we are sure that he’ll enjoy his introduction to road racing.”
