Nicky Hayden sad to lose qualifying tyres

American Nicky Hayden reckons one of the most exciting aspects of riding in MotoGP has been sacrificed because of the introduction of the single tyre rule for 2009.

The factory Ducati rider, who finished sixth at last week’s Jerez test in Spain, said no qualifying tyres could also potentially turn Saturday afternoon qualifying sessions into dull affairs.

Under the single tyre rule, Bridgestone has axed super soft qualifying rubber, with only 20 tyres being available per rider next season.

Former MotoGP world champion Hayden said: “I’ll miss the qualifiers. It was an exciting part of the weekend. To ride one of these bikes on the limit with a qualifying tyre with qualifying engine modes was quite a thrill.”

Hayden also fears that qualifying, which provided some thrilling entertainment in the final 25 minutes of a session, will now be much less of a spectacle with riders having to claim their grid places using race tyres.

Former Repsol Honda rider Hayden said: “It might be a little bit dull. I hope it’s not dull. A guy will go out, put in a couple quick times early and you aren’t going to see no red helmets and guys going from twelfth to second.”

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