Nicky Hayden disappointed at further engine delay

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has spoken of his disappointment at not being able to race Honda’s pneumatic valve motor in this weekend’s Catalunya GP.

The American was hoping to ride the V4 for the first time this weekend after veteran test rider Tadayuki Okada finished 14th on the new bike in Mugello just five days ago.

But the Repsol Honda rider confirmed he knew on Sunday night in Mugello that he would not be racing the motor in Barcelona this weekend, even though official confirmation only came from HRC management today.

Hayden has been pleading for Honda to get the motor ever since February when he last rode it in Phillip Island, but continuing problems have seen it continually delayed.

The 26-year-old said: “I had hoped it would be ready and I would be using it, that’s obvious. We originally hoped to be using it Qatar so it’s not like I’m shocked. My feeling is that if they (Honda) tell me its not and option and not at a level they are happy with, they know. They just said it’s not ready and I couldn’t say, ‘well, you’re lying to me.’

Hayden will now test the motor with team-mate Dani Pedrosa at a two-day test in Barcelona next week, and if successful, he expects to make his race debut on the bike at the British GP at Donington Park on July 22.

Hayden though did admit that he was surprised that it had taken so long to get the pneumatic valve motor to a level where it was deemed competitive enough to race.
The engine has been in circulation for seven months but Hayden and Pedrosa are still to run it.

“I’ve been a Honda guy and I’ve seen what they do in the past so I got confidence in them, especially in the 990 area and how good they were. I’m surprised it’s taken this long and I and everybody else expects a lot from Honda, “said the Kentucky rider.