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/209493
P30 IN THE WIND W hen Ben Spies announced his retirement during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend a few weeks ago, the number of Americans in the premier class of road racing dropped to just two – Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards. Though AMA Superbike Champion Josh Herrin will be joining the paddock in the Moto2 class next season, so that will help draw more U.S. interest to the series. But there's still concern regarding the future of Americans in MotoGP once Hayden and Edwards leave the paddock. Where will the replacements come from? Hayden shared his thoughts on Ben Spies' retirement, Josh Herrin, and getting American talent overseas when we spoke to him at the final round of the series in Spain. With Ben Spies retiring there's only two Americans left in the championship, what are your thoughts on him retiring? I think it's a shame because there's not a lot of American talent right now and I think for MotoGP the more guys we have out there to make people want to watch in America is better. Hopefully, Colin [Edwards] next year should be on a much better bike to at least give people more interest to come and tune in. I think having Josh Herrin in Moto2 will be good. I do think there is some PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE A CHAT WITH NICKY Nicky Hayden is hoping his domestic road racing series can be fixed so young Americans get the chance to go Grand Prix racing again. young talent in America, but it's just tough to crack in this league. With the way the championship is going in America they're just not getting the same competition, the same amount of racing to come compete with these kids who are coming through the Spanish Championship. I mean, you know, deep fields and racing a lot. So it's a bit of a shame, but it's his [Spies] choice. What about having Herrin in the paddock next season in Moto2? You know Moto2 is not easy. It's a tough deal. There are some really hungry riders, but I hope he can make an impression cause it's going to be really important… I don't want to put any extra pressure on him, but he's coming and people are advertising there's an American cham- pion. I think people maybe don't understand he wasn't necessarily the most dominant. People just hear an American champion and they're expecting a lot from him. That team seems really good really, ready to make it. I really hope he can do something cause it'd be important to get some more young riders. And also the Moto2 is great racing, but the American fans I don't think really have followed it because nobody in there that they really know. I don't even know if it's on TV at all in America. It is… It is, okay. But they're not watching. They're missing out. Because some… you know today wasn't the greatest Moto2 race, but there have been some good ones. What advice would you continued on page 32