Hayden backs Honda to improve struggling 800s

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has backed Honda to drastically improve its struggling factory RC212V 800 after the American’s woeful start to 2007.

The defence of Hayden’s world crown has been a disaster in the first four races, with a lack of top speed and no confidence in the front-end leaving him with a best result of seventh so far.

The 25-year-old though said he is keeping faith in Honda to drastically turnaround its fortunes, with the Japanese factory under intense pressure following a chorus of criticism from the likes of Dani Pedrosa, Marco Melandri and Carlos Checa.

The Repsol Honda rider told MCN: “I definitely believe in the company. Some things are frustrating but I think the aerodynamics was the biggest thing for me in Shanghai.

“You look at Dani’s top speed and it wasn’t not so bad, but for me on this bike its not good, and that’s something that I have asked for a while. That’s something I didn’t just want last Friday.

“We need to definitely do a lot. Hopefully I’m going to get some help from Honda and try to get rolling, get things back going the right way and get some momentum and try to catch on fire. I know things can change real quick in racing.”