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/265963
IN THE WIND P32 "It went really well actually," he said. "After Daytona we have to start using a new front tire for the rest of the year, so I spent the majority of my time getting used to that; it is definitely quite a bit different feeling so we spent quite a lot of time trying to get comfortable with it. Toward the end of the test, we made a lot of progress with that. "We just went through a lot of different settings, just trying ev- erything in the book. They had an organized plan for me and we just worked through it. I'm work- ing with a new crew [led by crew chief Davey Jones] and we're getting used to one another, but it's really coming along. We're pretty excited with where we're at, that's for sure." While Hayden has spent the last three seasons on a GSX- R1000 Superbike, the transition from the Jordan machine to the Yoshimura GSX-R is not quite as simple as swapping livery and competition numbers. "They are quite a bit differ- ent. Some characteristics are the same because it is a Suzuki, but it's totally different suspen- sion [Öhlins vs K-Tech], and the brakes… everything is different. The Yoshimura bike is good - I always felt you could see that I didn't always have the ponies to make moves when I wanted to in the past. It's an easier transition than going to a totally different bike, but it still takes some time to get used to." Unfortunately, time is something Hayden does not have working in his favor. A limited, five-race championship slate, combined with a handful of two-day race weekends, means the former AMA Supersport champ needs to hit the ground running if he's to have any hope of earn- ing his first Superbike title this season. That could prove especially problematic for Hayden, who has historically started off slow and built up steam as the year has progressed. "I've talked to my team about that a lot," Hayden admitted. "There is no room for any sort of error, whether it's rider or mechanic or what. With two-day weekends and a new team and new bike, I have to get going quick and figure out where new shifting points are on the track and all that stuff. "I have to get up to speed quicker anyway. For the last three years I've started out slow and by the middle of the season I'd be a different rider. I can't do that, and I've been approaching testing with that in mind. I know I feel different in testing than I have before. I've been pushing right out of the gate. I cannot have a slow start. "Josh Hayes has always been a lot faster than everybody on Friday and we have to play catch- up, which will prove tougher than ever at two-day events. But towards the end of the year last year there were a couple places where I led the first practice. I've got to carry on what I learned do- ing that. I know how important it is." Even though Hayes ultimately fell short of claiming a fourth consecutive Superbike title last season, he remains firmly estab- lished as the class' dominant fig- ure and standard-bearer. While (Above) Roger Lee Hayden is looking forward to his ride with Yoshimura Suzuki in 2014. (Right) Hayden has spent the past few seasons racing for the now defunct Michael Jordan Motorsports team.