VOL. 52 ISSUE 47 NOVMBER 24, 2015 P91
target is yet to be firmly set.
"I want to come and have fun,
but I also do not want to open
my mouth and make any big
predictions just yet, until I make
the transition," he affirmed. "I
hope that coming from Super-
bike—what I grew up on—I hope
the transition can come back
quickly. As I told some people
last week, I know I am not com-
ing to the 'senior tour.' These
guys are, I'm sure, going to be
very motivated to beat me. As an
ex-MotoGP rider I am sure they
are going to give me their best!
I have had a chance to meet
some of the guys already and it
looks like a fun championship.
The racing has always been
great and I have always been
WHAT THE WORLD SUPERBIKE
CHAMPIONS SAY ABOUT HAYDEN
2015 CHAMPION:
JONATHAN REA (Kawasaki
Racing Team in 2016)
"He is a quality rider and he has
got Superbike pedigree. He is
a MotoGP World Champion,
so it's clear that he is at a very
high level. His rookie teammate
proved this year that the CBR
could still be on the podium and
fight at the front. I expect Nicky
to win races and to fight at the
front and there is no reason why he
shouldn't. Young van der Mark has
been doing an exceptional job and
it was only last year (2014) that the
CBR had four race wins. He will be
a welcome addition to the paddock
because he has that world champion
aura about him as well. He will face
some challenges but he is a quality
rider and he will figure it out."
2014 CHAMPION:
SYLVAIN GUINTOLI (Pata
Yamaha WSBK in 2016)
"I think it is fantastic that Nicky is
coming. He is legend and he is go-
ing to bring some positives to World
Superbike. For him it is going to be
tough because I know his teammate
is fast! For the championship it is
great that Nicky is there and I am
looking forward to doing battle with
him next year."
Hayden's a popular
addition to the World
Superbike paddock,
a place that's seen
MotoGP refugees Max
Biaggi, Marco Melandri
and Sylvain Guintoli all
pass through.
