NICKY HAYDEN BECOMES
22
ND
MOTOGP LEGEND.
I
n a weekend somewhat short
of any feel-good, one high-
light was the induction of Nicky
Hayden as the 22nd MotoGP
Legend.
The award, said Dorna CEO
Carmelo Ezpeleta, was not only
for his on-track achievements,
but, "…for your friendship to
everybody. I thank you for all you
have done for us."
Hayden admitted: "There're
people who have done more
and won more than me."
It was fitting to get the award
at Valencia, where he had
watched his first grand prix in
2002 prior to his 2003 debut,
and realized, "I was in the big
league now."
Joining the factory Honda
team, he was Rookie of the Year
and, despite only winning three
GPs, his signal achievement
was defeating Valentino Rossi
for the 2006 championship, also
at Valencia.
Asked which of his several
illustrious teammates had been
the best, he said, "Casey
[Stoner] had an amazing ability
to find the limit on a dirty track.
But the most…I think Valentino,
to come back at 36 and achieve
what he has."
And one race he remembers
in particular? That would be from
his dirt-track days, the Del Mar
Mile, where he was leading on
the last lap only to lose over the
flag to Chris Carr. A Mile is one of
the few races he has never won.
Hayden moves to World
Superbikes next year on the
Ten Kate Honda team alongside
Dutch bright hope Michael van
der Mark.
Michael Scott
IN
THE
WIND
P38
Nicky Hayden's
induction into the
Legends realm
was one of the feel
good stories of
Valencia.
