Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128387
MOTOGP Round 8 July 10. 2005 ~ e fairy tale came true today for the irrepressible Nicky Hayden. In front of 57,932 sun-baked, adoring fans, the 23-year-old from Owensboro, Kentucky, earned his first-ever MotoGP win in his home race, the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The challenging Monterey, California, circuit was victorious as well, haVing survived a weekend's worth of brickbats while hosting its first Grand Prix in I I years. Not only did Repsol Honda's Hayden become the first American to win a Grand Prix since Kenny Roberts Jr.'s last win at Motegi in 2000, but he was joined on the podium by Texan Colin Edwards. The last time Americans finished one-two was Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Rainey at Jerez in 1993. "The people today made me feel so awesome," a beaming Hayden said after his flag-to-flag romp. "I'd like to thank my tearn Honda and everybody for believing in me, sticking behind me. There were a lot of people who said last year, after two years, send him back to Superbikes maybe he doesn't have it. And Honda, a lot of people, a lot of people believed in me and my friends and family, and just taking my dad for a lap was really special." Earl Hayden, a fixture at racetracks worldwide in support of his three sons, rode pillion on the Repsol Honda RC21 IV on the victory lap. "The last couple of laps I was trying to stay focused, T 20 JULY 20,2005 • CYCLE NEWS MotoGP World Championship but I was thinking about when I was a kid," Hayden said. "I can honestly remember going to Daytona one year to race amateurs and our roof was leaking so bad that my dad put buckets under the roof, and you all may laugh and think it's funny, but the dude spent the money we needed on a roof to go racing. Whatever it took for everybody to believe in me, be behind me." Almost lost in After a poor start, Colin the excitement was Edwards (5) stalked Yamaha's Valentino teammate Valentino Rossi (in Rossi. The World front), eventually passing him Champion's victory in the Corkscrew. Edwards fended off Rossi in the closing streak ended at five stages for second position. with a third-place finish, nearly second if Edwards hadn't picked up his game on the final lap. "I push a lot, and at the end it was quite fun," Rossi said. He'd been passed by Edwards on the 16th of 32 laps and nearly lost touch. A last-lap surge put him within striking distance. "I arrive to Colin [Edwards], and when he looked at me on the last lap, I say, 'Hi, I am here.' I try to put a little bit of pressure, but anyway difficult to overtake," Rossi said. "I think maybe if I try at the hairpin, I see already the two Yamaha in the pileup on the last corner. For sure is not very good, and I say, 'Okay, is enough.' I like also for more advantage for the championship."