MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hopeful on new chassis for Jerez

Nicky Hayden is hoping he will get his hands on a new spec chassis for the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez later this month after his nightmare start to 2008.

The American was woefully off the pace in the recent historic Qatar night race as he opted to switch back to a complete version of Honda’s 2007 factory RC212V.

The gamble backfired as he struggled home in 10th place, while Repsol team-mate Dani Pedrosa cast aside his pre-season issues to claim third.

The Spaniard was using a new chassis that HRC engineers had hurriedly built in less than a week and now Nicky Hayden is hoping the improved frame will be offered to him in Jerez.

Nicky Hayden said: “He (Dani) seems to think it’s a big step forward, so hopefully I can get one of those for Jerez.

“They just made it between the test and the first race in Qatar so I’d like to try it.”