Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Nicky Then, Nicky Now \ A /hen Nicky Y Y Hayden took his father, Earl, for a spin on the back of his Repsol Honda after winning the Red Bull U.S. GP on july 10, it wasn't the first time that the father and son duo had taken to the track together in celebration. Back on August 21, 1999, Nicky took Earl for a spin on his TCR HarleyDavidson after winning his first of six AMA Grand National dirt tracks. judging from the photos, the Honda Y-five MotoGP bike was a tad more frightening. Hayden on the Mend Kawasaki's Tommy Hayden will contest both the Superstock and Supersport classes in the AMA Superbike Championship round at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, july 24-25, after successful surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand, according to Kawasaki team manager Mike Preston. "Right now he's good to go," Preston said on Friday, july I S. "His biggest headache at the moment is his teammate [Roger Lee Hayden] gaining points. His teammate is riding well, his teammate has the same equipment. and his teammate wants to win. That's probably his biggest headache." But, Preston added, "If his hand's really terrible, I guess we would consider something else." Hayden broke the third metacarpal on his right hand in a crash during Sunday morning's Superstock race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Hayden fell from the lead while trying to pass a lapped rider on the outside of the right-hand turn four. In addition to the hand injury, he slightly Tommy Hayden injured his right shoulder. hopes to For the Supersport be fit for final, held after the Mid-Ohio. MotoGP race, Hayden's crew fabricated a special throttle grip out of fiberglass and foam, with a palm rest so he wouldn't have to bend his wrist as much. Hayden finished sixth in the race, won by Yamaha's jason DiSalvo in a wild finish over Roger Lee Hayden. The sixth allowed Tommy Hayden to maintain his championship lead over Roger Lee, 237-196, with three rounds remaining. "He's pretty tough," Preston said. "Tougher than I anticipated." On Monday, july I I, Dr. Arthur Ting performed surgery at his office in San Jose. A half-inch incision was made on the top of the hand and a small plate and five screws were attached. Hayden flew home to Owensboro, Kentucky, on Thursday, July 14 z after a brief trip z < to Southern ii" CD California. >CD "I want to be positive," Preston said. "It's kind of Q. a little bone. You need it, but it's not a bone that pulls muscle. It's just kind of a hindrance for him. There's not really any therapy. The biggest thing they want to do is make sure the incision on top scabs up well. If the tops of his gloves rubs it, they don't want it to break open." Gauze and an ACE bandage protect the wound, Preston said. "He's determined to carry this thing out," Preston said. "I talked to him yesterday. Everything's good. He's raring to go." Henny Ray Abrams Changes Done for Mid-Ohio According to officials from AMA Pro Racing and TrueSports Inc., the managing entity of MidOhio Sports Car Course, riders will find some changes at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course when they arrive for the AMA Superbike Championship round, July 22-24. Based on feedback provided by AMA Pro Racing officials and participating riders, TrueSports Inc. continued safety updates initiated with the track surface repair and reformation of tum-I I barriers in 2004, according to AHA Pro Racing. Latest efforts include relocating the permanent wall along the back straight to the riders' left an additional 30 feet off track and moving the turnseven wall on the riders' right side an additional 3S feet off track. Other safety improvements included the purchase of 1000 linear feet of air module safety barriers for deployment in tum seven and around the track. These units will be used in addition 6 JULY 27,2005 • CYCLE NEWS ~ w ~ Roncada, Kawasaki Split Bruce Stjernstrom. director of professional racing for Kawuaki Motors Corp. USA, announced last week chat KawasaItI had opted to release motoerosser ~ Roncada from his contract, aIIowIntl the troubled racer to pursue other career opponunltles. "The decision to release Stephana from his aareement with KawaAki was made with everyone's best Interests In mind," Stjemstrom said. "It is no question that Stephana Is an extremely talented ~ both on and off the track, and I am cenaln he will excel In whatever he ~ to do." According to Stjemstrom. team management diSCU55ed current and future plans with Roncada and a mutual agreement was reached, which the director of racing says "Is a continuing example of the respect that exists between lM!I')'OIl8 imIoIved. "Kawasaki certainly wishes only the best for Stephana In the future," Stjemstrom said. to approximately 1000 linear feet to be transported and deployed by AMA Pro Racing. Gravel pit transitions have also been smoothed and additional gravel has been added, the track says. ''At the conclusion of last year's event, Ron Barrick and I discussed both short- and long-term improvements based on input from riders and officials." TrueSports Inc. president Michelle Trueman Gajoch said. "We feel these changes are an appropriate extension of our ongoing safety discussion with AHA Pro Racing. Moving forward, we will perform additional safety measures and obtain more safety barriers as part of our continual process of track improvement." "Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is the home of one of our longest-running and best-attended events, and these safety efforts are a good step to ensure future events are equally successful." AHA Pro Racing road race series manager Ron Barrick said. "With the horsepower and speed generated by modern Superbikes, it's important for AHA Pro Racing and track promoters to continually evaluate all on-track safety issues and make appropriate changes, as Mid-Ohio is continuing to do."

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