Bushiee46
13-12-2006, 15:05
This interview was conducted by Road Racer X magazine a couple of days after Hayden claimed his first MotoGp world Championship:
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6104&d=1166018547
Interviewer:So, how was the party?
Nicky Hayden: Sunday night after the race, we actually ended up just going to the award ceremony. We didn’t make the party, but when I got home to Owensboro Friday night, my mom had a big party for me. She rented out this place where people have wedding receptions, and we had a DJ. It was just my family and friends, and it was fun. You win, and a lot of people start calling in—it’s easy to make friends—but it was nice to come back and celebrate with my people who’ve been around through it all, thick and thin. Those people haven’t really changed much, and it was fun. I had some people who used to help me back in the day come in for it and stuff.
How many people came?
I don’t know, maybe 150. It wasn’t like a real formal dinner, but they had food and a DJ. They had a microphone, and my uncle got up there and gave a little speech. Rog and my buddy Reynolds Wrap [Eric Reynolds] also said a few words. It was pretty straight. Then it turned into a bit of a dance party, but that’s about it.
Did you break your no-alcohol policy?
Well, when I was about 12 years old, I told Reynolds I wasn’t ever going to drink until I won the world championship. I didn’t get drunk, but I had a beer with him. My whole life, I’d never drank; when I was young, I’d see these kids who were older than me drinking at the Amateur Nationals and then doing terrible the next day. My plan then was to never drink, and I told my buddy that for the last 15 years. I owed it to him. At first I wasn’t [going to drink], but they got on me, so had that I had to.
Will you take a vacation?
Pretty much just back to work—no real vacation or anything like that. There’s a lot going on, so the main thing right now is that a lot of people want my time. I want to be a good champion and do what I’ve got to do, but also, I want to make sure that I do my testing. I’m probably going to have to get the plate taken out of my shoulder soon, but more than anything, it’s just making sure that I don’t take on too much stuff, so next year I come back fresh and ready to try and repeat.
It sounds like you’re getting used to being champion.
Yeah, definitely. This is what I’ve always wanted to do, and dreams really do come true. There’s been times in my life—when I was 18, or I had injuries, or even after my sophomore year—that the idea of being world champ seemed so far away. But you can tell any kids out there that I’m proof that with some hard work, some sacrifices, and some good people around you—you can’t do it on your own—dreams really do come true.
What exactly was going on when you and Rossi touched off the start in Valencia? Were you messing with him?
Not quite like that. I got a good start, and he got a bad start and was coming across. I kind of put an elbow into him, but I guess that was more of a racing deal. But when I passed him back in turn one and passed a bunch of other guys, I wanted him to see that—how I was feeling and what I was prepared to do. I wanted him to see me go through them.
Did you start to imagine noises coming from the bike after Rossi crashed?
No, I didn’t really imagine any noises. It was a long 25 laps though, I can tell you that. I wasn’t sure about my tire. I thought maybe I felt it starting to chatter a little bit, but I didn’t hear any silly noises or anything like that. But I can tell you, them last 25 laps were brutal—especially the last two laps. They were long—so long!
Rossi said all the Michelin guys had problems.
You know, me and Rossi ran the same rear tire. I think we were the only two guys, and that’s not normal. I think it was only about the second or third time of the year that we ran the same tire. But Bridgestone has come on, so Michelin’s got to do their work. I’m not sure; the first five laps, I thought we had a big edge. It’s easy to sit here now and say I think I could’ve won, but the Bridgestone was really consistent. It may have been better consistency-wise, but our tire, at the beginning, when I passed Capirossi and was catching Bayliss, I thought we were in a little better position. But they closed the gap. It used to be they had about six tracks that they really struggled on. Now they’ve got it down to about three. Michelin pulling out of Formula One definitely will beef up their manpower. We’ll see what’s going to happen with this new tire rule. I don’t really like the tire rule. It’s kind of lame, really. For Supersport racing or something like that, tire rules are cool, but MotoGP is the top form, big daddy of them all. A tire rule just seems kind of club-racer-ish, like in the 883 class.
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6105&d=1166018560
What did Earl say to you after the race?
I don’t really remember what he said; it was all a bit of a blur. I gave him a hug and told him, “You can tell them now, whatever happens from here on out, Earl’s Racing Team’s officially dynasty.”
How do you expect this to change your world?
Well, I’m not really sure, actually. I hope not too much. Honestly, I hope that I don’t let it get to me, and I’m pretty sure my sisters won’t let it get to me too much [laughs]. They’ll put me back in my place real quick. But the phones are definitely ringing, and people are wanting my time for this and that. There’s a lot of things going on, but I want to stay focused on what I do. It could change a lot of things, though, especially in Europe. On Tuesday [after the race], me and Rog went downtown [in Valencia] to get some lunch, and just walking around, people were coming up to me all over the place. It’ll be interesting to see. Here in Owensboro, they had a little thing in the paper, and one of my buddies got all mad, saying I didn’t get the credit I deserve. But honestly, I want to just enjoy coming back to Owensboro and getting away from all that. I don’t need a whole lot of that sort of stuff. I’d just as soon come home and be able to blend in with my buddies, with no big issues.
Do you expect to get more respect from the European fans and press?
I would say so. Why would people over there want an American that they don’t really know to come over and win the series? Rossi is kind of their guy; they watched him ride 125s and 250s. I followed him out for the sighting lap at Malaysia, and the whole paddock comes out to wish him good luck—all the 125 teams and everyone. I’m thinking, This is what I’m up against. For some reason, I think Portugal and how the first few laps at Valencia went, it seemed to almost make people get behind me more. After the whole Portugal deal, it was crazy. On y’all’s website, all the people wrote in—even former racers like that Steve Wise guy, and [Vincent] Haskovec, got on there. That was really cool.
What was the meeting with Pedrosa like at Valencia? Was it just you two?
Well, me, him, and of course Alberto [Puig]. And Pete . It wasn’t exactly like team orders; it was just a gentlemen’s agreement. He wanted to try to help me if there was something he could do, and he did. He left the door wide open for me. We just kind of talked about that if he saw that I was behind him on the board, he’d let me through. The main thing is that we wouldn’t be racing each other, because we were starting fifth and sixth, and if I passed Rossi, to maybe try to hold the pace up a little bit. It’s hard to predict whatever’s going to happen in racing, but we had a bit of a plan. I told him, if he helped me, I wouldn’t forget him next year or in two years or whatever.
[B]You and Toni Elias showed at the last two rounds that it’s still possible to slide a bike and do well in MotoGP. Maybe dirt track is still good training as well, huh?
I think it’s still definitely good training. With traction control and anti-wheelie and the good tires, [the benefit] is definitely less. You need to ride it in line, but there comes a time when that dirt track background can bail you out. It’s definitely something I’ve got in my arsenal. Even Rossi told them that in left-hand corners—like that big left at Valencia—nobody’s got more throttle control than I do, and I think it’s because of my dirt tracking.
Apart from Rossi, whom are you most concerned about for 2007?
I can’t really say. I’ve never been a guy to get too into worrying about everyone else, especially at this level. It’s not like a little amateur race, where you really know you have to beat one guy. It’ll be interesting to see, with the 800s; we haven’t seen everybody’s hand yet, but at Valencia, the tests were kind of strange. I think the Suzukis were the ones that shocked everyone. I think Vermeulen was the fastest, most consistent guy, and John was fast, and the bike was for sure really fast. Our team was taking radar speeds on Wednesday [in Valencia], and they weren’t sure if it was the 990 or the 800. We’ll just see what the bike can do and what the tires are going to be. I can only worry about myself and make sure I’m ready and prepared.
Have you identified specific areas that you need to improve?
I think one thing is just working with the team and understanding the bike more and more. Also, I think I’m going to have to win more races; I don’t think I can win the title next year by winning two races. It’s going to take more wins than that, along with the same consistency.
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6104&d=1166018547
Interviewer:So, how was the party?
Nicky Hayden: Sunday night after the race, we actually ended up just going to the award ceremony. We didn’t make the party, but when I got home to Owensboro Friday night, my mom had a big party for me. She rented out this place where people have wedding receptions, and we had a DJ. It was just my family and friends, and it was fun. You win, and a lot of people start calling in—it’s easy to make friends—but it was nice to come back and celebrate with my people who’ve been around through it all, thick and thin. Those people haven’t really changed much, and it was fun. I had some people who used to help me back in the day come in for it and stuff.
How many people came?
I don’t know, maybe 150. It wasn’t like a real formal dinner, but they had food and a DJ. They had a microphone, and my uncle got up there and gave a little speech. Rog and my buddy Reynolds Wrap [Eric Reynolds] also said a few words. It was pretty straight. Then it turned into a bit of a dance party, but that’s about it.
Did you break your no-alcohol policy?
Well, when I was about 12 years old, I told Reynolds I wasn’t ever going to drink until I won the world championship. I didn’t get drunk, but I had a beer with him. My whole life, I’d never drank; when I was young, I’d see these kids who were older than me drinking at the Amateur Nationals and then doing terrible the next day. My plan then was to never drink, and I told my buddy that for the last 15 years. I owed it to him. At first I wasn’t [going to drink], but they got on me, so had that I had to.
Will you take a vacation?
Pretty much just back to work—no real vacation or anything like that. There’s a lot going on, so the main thing right now is that a lot of people want my time. I want to be a good champion and do what I’ve got to do, but also, I want to make sure that I do my testing. I’m probably going to have to get the plate taken out of my shoulder soon, but more than anything, it’s just making sure that I don’t take on too much stuff, so next year I come back fresh and ready to try and repeat.
It sounds like you’re getting used to being champion.
Yeah, definitely. This is what I’ve always wanted to do, and dreams really do come true. There’s been times in my life—when I was 18, or I had injuries, or even after my sophomore year—that the idea of being world champ seemed so far away. But you can tell any kids out there that I’m proof that with some hard work, some sacrifices, and some good people around you—you can’t do it on your own—dreams really do come true.
What exactly was going on when you and Rossi touched off the start in Valencia? Were you messing with him?
Not quite like that. I got a good start, and he got a bad start and was coming across. I kind of put an elbow into him, but I guess that was more of a racing deal. But when I passed him back in turn one and passed a bunch of other guys, I wanted him to see that—how I was feeling and what I was prepared to do. I wanted him to see me go through them.
Did you start to imagine noises coming from the bike after Rossi crashed?
No, I didn’t really imagine any noises. It was a long 25 laps though, I can tell you that. I wasn’t sure about my tire. I thought maybe I felt it starting to chatter a little bit, but I didn’t hear any silly noises or anything like that. But I can tell you, them last 25 laps were brutal—especially the last two laps. They were long—so long!
Rossi said all the Michelin guys had problems.
You know, me and Rossi ran the same rear tire. I think we were the only two guys, and that’s not normal. I think it was only about the second or third time of the year that we ran the same tire. But Bridgestone has come on, so Michelin’s got to do their work. I’m not sure; the first five laps, I thought we had a big edge. It’s easy to sit here now and say I think I could’ve won, but the Bridgestone was really consistent. It may have been better consistency-wise, but our tire, at the beginning, when I passed Capirossi and was catching Bayliss, I thought we were in a little better position. But they closed the gap. It used to be they had about six tracks that they really struggled on. Now they’ve got it down to about three. Michelin pulling out of Formula One definitely will beef up their manpower. We’ll see what’s going to happen with this new tire rule. I don’t really like the tire rule. It’s kind of lame, really. For Supersport racing or something like that, tire rules are cool, but MotoGP is the top form, big daddy of them all. A tire rule just seems kind of club-racer-ish, like in the 883 class.
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6105&d=1166018560
What did Earl say to you after the race?
I don’t really remember what he said; it was all a bit of a blur. I gave him a hug and told him, “You can tell them now, whatever happens from here on out, Earl’s Racing Team’s officially dynasty.”
How do you expect this to change your world?
Well, I’m not really sure, actually. I hope not too much. Honestly, I hope that I don’t let it get to me, and I’m pretty sure my sisters won’t let it get to me too much [laughs]. They’ll put me back in my place real quick. But the phones are definitely ringing, and people are wanting my time for this and that. There’s a lot of things going on, but I want to stay focused on what I do. It could change a lot of things, though, especially in Europe. On Tuesday [after the race], me and Rog went downtown [in Valencia] to get some lunch, and just walking around, people were coming up to me all over the place. It’ll be interesting to see. Here in Owensboro, they had a little thing in the paper, and one of my buddies got all mad, saying I didn’t get the credit I deserve. But honestly, I want to just enjoy coming back to Owensboro and getting away from all that. I don’t need a whole lot of that sort of stuff. I’d just as soon come home and be able to blend in with my buddies, with no big issues.
Do you expect to get more respect from the European fans and press?
I would say so. Why would people over there want an American that they don’t really know to come over and win the series? Rossi is kind of their guy; they watched him ride 125s and 250s. I followed him out for the sighting lap at Malaysia, and the whole paddock comes out to wish him good luck—all the 125 teams and everyone. I’m thinking, This is what I’m up against. For some reason, I think Portugal and how the first few laps at Valencia went, it seemed to almost make people get behind me more. After the whole Portugal deal, it was crazy. On y’all’s website, all the people wrote in—even former racers like that Steve Wise guy, and [Vincent] Haskovec, got on there. That was really cool.
What was the meeting with Pedrosa like at Valencia? Was it just you two?
Well, me, him, and of course Alberto [Puig]. And Pete . It wasn’t exactly like team orders; it was just a gentlemen’s agreement. He wanted to try to help me if there was something he could do, and he did. He left the door wide open for me. We just kind of talked about that if he saw that I was behind him on the board, he’d let me through. The main thing is that we wouldn’t be racing each other, because we were starting fifth and sixth, and if I passed Rossi, to maybe try to hold the pace up a little bit. It’s hard to predict whatever’s going to happen in racing, but we had a bit of a plan. I told him, if he helped me, I wouldn’t forget him next year or in two years or whatever.
[B]You and Toni Elias showed at the last two rounds that it’s still possible to slide a bike and do well in MotoGP. Maybe dirt track is still good training as well, huh?
I think it’s still definitely good training. With traction control and anti-wheelie and the good tires, [the benefit] is definitely less. You need to ride it in line, but there comes a time when that dirt track background can bail you out. It’s definitely something I’ve got in my arsenal. Even Rossi told them that in left-hand corners—like that big left at Valencia—nobody’s got more throttle control than I do, and I think it’s because of my dirt tracking.
Apart from Rossi, whom are you most concerned about for 2007?
I can’t really say. I’ve never been a guy to get too into worrying about everyone else, especially at this level. It’s not like a little amateur race, where you really know you have to beat one guy. It’ll be interesting to see, with the 800s; we haven’t seen everybody’s hand yet, but at Valencia, the tests were kind of strange. I think the Suzukis were the ones that shocked everyone. I think Vermeulen was the fastest, most consistent guy, and John was fast, and the bike was for sure really fast. Our team was taking radar speeds on Wednesday [in Valencia], and they weren’t sure if it was the 990 or the 800. We’ll just see what the bike can do and what the tires are going to be. I can only worry about myself and make sure I’m ready and prepared.
Have you identified specific areas that you need to improve?
I think one thing is just working with the team and understanding the bike more and more. Also, I think I’m going to have to win more races; I don’t think I can win the title next year by winning two races. It’s going to take more wins than that, along with the same consistency.