Monday 22 July 2013

Nicky, it's a no-brainer

Nicky Hayden has been served his notice by the Ducati MotoGP team and there is plenty of speculation about him moving to World Superbike, but really, his next move should be made by heart not head. He's still young and fit enough to become the AMA Flat Track champion. He even told Sideburn, back in 2008, that winning a GNC Mile was one of his greatest motorcycle wishes. Now's his chance.

He is a former MotoGP World champion. No MotoGP champ has gone to WSB. He has nothing to prove in road racing. And a decade on the top teams in MotoGP mean he doesn't need the money.

He could go back to America, still get the competitive buzz, without all the travelling and bullshit, have a two-man team, supporting a young rider on the way up, with the inevitable sponsorship Hayden could easily attract. He'd also put a spotlight on a sport he loves, that would, in turn, help the whole of US flat track.

Come on, Nicky, it's a no-brainer. G

11 comments:

Harley said...

Maybe Ducati should have sweetened the departure by dropping some cash towards a Ducati powered AMA ride for Nicky. A Panigale engine (or even a Desmosedici) in a tracker frame, now that would be worth watching!

Adriaan said...

hmmm, perhaps ride that new Ducati Scrambler that people are whispering is on the way..

Sideburn Magazine said...

Harley, those engines aren't legal.
Adriaan, he'll struggle to beat the likes of Johnson, Mees, Smith and Coolbeth on anything but a Harley. Maybe a Kawasaki. Yes, Kopp won on a Ducati (at altitude when it was running with big intakes), but the AMA immediately changed the rules to make it less competitive.
Forget the Ducati side of things and it's no less interesting. G

peterfromhungary said...

Great idea Gary, great! Maybe we have to sign a petition and give personally to Nicky!

Harley said...

Legal? Definitely not. I was thinking more along the lines of the KRV5 tracker Roland Sands put together.

Marcus @ MarcusMotoDesign said...

Great idea!! Would be cool! But I think he goes to WSB to put the panigale in top where it should be.

Adriaan said...

I guess they don't want to mess with that first A in AMA too much. :)
But yeah, it would be pretty cool (if very inlikely) to see someone like Nicky make that transition.

Keith B said...

Hmm,...Nicky Hayden back on the dirt,...now that would be cool.

Chris said...

I am interested in your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter...

Joel said...

That would be fun to watch, probably more interesting than watching him in WSB.

And AMA Flat Track could use the extra fans he'd bring.

Unknown said...

here's hoping!!.