Nicky Hayden expects fierce competition in 2011

Nicky Hayden reckons the 2011 MotoGP field is so strong that it is impossible to single out who will be the big challengers this year.

The 2006 world champion finished seventh in the rankings last season after making a vast improvement in Ducati’s factory squad from 13th in 2009.

But the Kentucky rider, who will partner nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi at Ducati in 2011, said: “There’s really no slackers in MotoGP. The guy right now is (Jorge) Lorenzo, he’s the guy with the title.

“But you go down the list, they’re all solid, they’re all players, none of them sleep on nobody and that’s why I love MotoGP. It’s going to be a big challenge this year and I’m not going to single out any hardest rival because they’re all contenders.”