Cycle News

Briefly... Nicky's Malaysian Test [) epsol Honda's Nicky Hayden ended r\the 2005 campaign with an extensive test of the Honda RC21 IV he mayor may not be racing in 2006, while the briefly seen, more compact RC211V was nowhere in sight. "We didn't run the new bike, but I did test a different chassis - the chassis that Max [Biagg~ and Sete [Gibemau) had used some at the end of the year," Hayden said in a phone call after returning to his home in Owensboro, Kentucky, after the test in Sepang, Malaysia. "Definitely had some good points. That's the thing: When you go to try to fix something, you definitely always compromise other things. It was definitely a lot better getting into the corner on the brakes. Some of the chattering and hopping, you know, it was really stable, into the hard braking, like the last comer at Malaysia and the first corner. But for me, it wasn't as stable for me in the fast corners on the front. And you lose a lot of time quick when it's fast corners if you're not confident in the front. Lap-rime-wise, jt was really not a big difference. Actually, I went a little bit quicker on the chassis I used all year. 50 there's definitely some good points to it. They definitely did some work. It definitely wasn't clear-<:ut for me." Former teammate Max Biaggi briefly tested the smaller V-five in Brno before it disappeared. HRC officials said at the final GP in Valencia that it would be raced next year, but Hayden's not so sure. "I think the new bike is still not necessarily finalized if it's coming or if they're going to bring out a whole new bike," he said. "I know at the Brno test, Max [Biaggi] tested a prototype bike. I don't think it's necessarily known if that's going to be the 'go' or not." And Hayden didn't know if the new bike would return for the first test after the winter break, back in Malaysia in midJanuary. "I mean, I don't necessarily know if the new bike will be there again. There is word that they still have put some time into it. So sometime or another, it's probably going to come, but not necessarily. Probably [I'll test) just this chassis again. They want to use this chassis next year." The test was also the first for Hayden's new teammate, three-time World Champion Dani Pedrosa. Much has been made about Pedrosa's size - his weight is listed at 107 pounds - but Hayden doesn't see that as a problem. ''A lot of people, definitely, I think make a too big a deal about his size," Hayden said. "I don't think it's that big of an issue. Maybe if a guy was just a real average rider. yeah, maybe his size, in some areas, maybe could hold you back. These bikes, you don't muscle 250 horsepower, with how much they weigh. To go quick on them, you've got to finesse them. The more you sometimes try (0 muscle them, the worse they are. You've got to be smooth and precise." That said, Pedrosa did have his limits. "He had told me after the second day he knows he's going to have to definitely try to get a little stronger to hold himself up on the brakes, because carbon brakes stop really fast," Hayden said. ''And [at Sepang] there's a lot of places where you brake from sixth gear down to second gear, first gear. That definitely takes a lot of strength to hold yourself up." Pedrosa's size could be an advantage, Hayden says. "He's going to have some sick top speed in some places." Hayden believes Pedrosa is "definitely the real deal and went quick. He's a good kid. He was having fun. He was pretty wore down at the end, but he seemed to really enjoy himself." HRC managing director Satoru Horiike said in Valencia that both Repsol Honda riders would share development. Hayden saw evidence of that and more in Malaysia. "I mean, definitely, I don't think it's necessarily all me," Hayden said. "I was testing some stuff, I know Marco [Melandri] was, I'm sure Dani [Pedrosa) was. A lot of people make a big deal about [that] it's going to be one rider. But I think they take infornnation, a little bit, from everybody. Last year, Max [Biaggi] and Sete [Gibernau) did most of the work. I think that's tough, because Max's setup Mladin Out For Daytona Test Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin won't be at the Dunlop tire test at Daytona International Speedway next weekend, as the Australian is still suffering from the effects of his off-season ankle surgery, according to Yosh team manager Don Sakakura. "Mat is still recovering from his ankle surgery and he doesn't feel 100 percent yet," Sakakura said. "We want him to be healed and what he likes is so different from anybody else, his style and what he was looking for. Obviously, I want to put my input into it, so it's every man for themselves. I want to make the bike most comfortable for me and to suit my style. "The Honda is pretty... One thing they do, it's pretty broad across the board, as far as being able to ride it. 50 I don't think it's something that only one guy's style can ride." Rain struck intermittently during the three-day test, but that wasn't a bad thing for Hayden. He knows he has to improve in the rain, and he took advantage of the conditions to test intermediates for Michelin. "When I struggle, the worst is when it stops raining and starts to get a dry line or kind of patchy - that's probably the hardest time for me," Hayden said. "Just mentally believing you can trust the limit. Really finding out how hard you can push. Full rain is definitely not as bad for me as when it stopS raining and starts to just dry out a bit." Now Hayden has a little more than a month off until the next test. He's already back on the road, traveling to Florida to consult with his trainer on his 2006 program. Then there are sponsor obligations for American Honda and some photo shoots on his schedule. "It fills up the days pretty quick," he notes. Before long, he'll be back testing in Malaysia, then Phillip Island, Malaysia, Qatar, Barcelona and Jerez. All of which points to the 2006 season, when, for the first time, he'll be Honda's number-one GP rider. For Nicky, the first race can't come soon enough. Henny Ray Abrams for the start of the season." To accommodate Mladin, Suzuki may end up testing prior to the start of the season in Australia, most likely in February. "We're planning some testing in Australia, but nothing has been finalized," Sakakura said. "We have a few things we need him to look at and test. We're looking at Eastern Creek or possibly Phillip Island, but we're playing it by ear right now." The AMA has announced staffing changes. With his recent election to the position of vice president of the FIM, AMA president Robert Rasor will begin transitioning to a more expanded role with the international organization. In that role, he will continue to represent the AMA and the interests of U.S. motorcyclists in the worldwide arena. Rasor, who has served the AMA for 33 years, has spent much of his career working for motorcyclists' rights, leading the Association's government-relations efforts for 28 years and becoming preSident in 2000. His involvement with the FIM began in 19BB, and he was a key player in guiding the international body to become a watchdog for motorcyclists' rights worldwide, eventually serving as president of the FIM's Commission for Mobility, Transport, Road Safety and Public Policy. Rasor will continue to serve as president during the transition, while the AM,l>;s chief financial officer, Patricia DiPietro, will serve as executive vice president and chief financial officer. DiPietro, with 29 years' experience helping guide the financial and operational affairs of the AMA, will oversee the Association's day-to-day operations and work with the AMA board of directors on leadership plans. ''As the country's premier advocate for motorcyclists, the AMA's influence can only be increased with stronger. more direct ties to international motorcycling," DiPietro said. ''At the same time, these staffing changes will allow us to remain focused on the rights, riding and racing interests of our members and motorcycling at large. I look forward to the challenges." With the transition, John Hoover, a past AMA board member who recently came out of retirement to serve as the AHA's chief operating officer, will move into a consulting role with the AMA on several projects. The 3Bth annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race will be broadcast Saturday, December 10, at 3 p.m. EST (noon PST) as a one-hour sports special on NBC Tv. Part of the continuing coverage of the six-race 2005 SCORE Desert Series, the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 was held November IB-19, on the northern part of the rugged Baja California, Mexico, peninsula, starting and finishing in Ensenada. With a near-race-record 342 starters competing in 24 Pro and five Sportsman classes for cars and trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, the team of Hesperia, California's lMry Roeseler and Las Vegas, Nevada's Troy Herbst successfully defended their overall four-wheel vehicle and unlimited Class One titles. Steve Hengeveld of Oak Hills, California, Johnny Campbell of San Clemente, California, and Mike Childress of Wrightwood, California, teamed up to give American Honda its ninth consecutive overall and Class 22 motorcycle Victory. Another one·hour special on the legendary event will air three times in December on the Outdoor Ufe Network (OLN), with the first airing set for Sunday, December 18, at 9 p.m. EST and 9 p.m. PST. Young Turkish road racer Kenan Sofuoglu Continued on page 'I CYCLE NEWS • DECEMBER 14,2005 9

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