VOL. 52 ISSUE 47 NOVMBER 24, 2015 P89
firm that I wanted to continue
and I realized that on the way
to the Valencia GP. I was think-
ing on my way there that 'man,
I am really happy that this is not
my last race.' I really enjoyed
this game and this sport and I
wanted to come here."
Asked when he knew for sure
he was about to leave behind
one paddock and join another,
Hayden cannot be too exact.
"I do not have any one mo-
ment where the light went off; I
was talking to some GP teams
but once you have been there
on a Repsol Honda and a Marl-
boro Ducati it is hard to go back.
I would rather come here with
the factory team and try some-
thing new, something exciting.
I guess I went to Laguna and
looked around, liked what I saw,
liked the racing and then started
speaking with some different
teams. Then I spoke with Honda
and everything fell into place
pretty easy, pretty quick."
Staying with Honda in World
Superbike was a factor for
Hayden, who has only ridden for
Honda, Ducati and then Honda
again in MotoGP, but he is not
being paid to ride in World Su-
perbike by American Honda, or
anything of that kind.
"I would not say that there was
any big commitment that said
anybody would fund this," said
Hayden. "But it should make a
(Left) Hayden
was right on van
der Mark's pace
at Aragon, but
knows he must
go quicker.
(Right) Nicky,
meet CBR, CBR,
meet Nicky.
You two will get
along just fine.
(Below)
Hayden's
MotoGP career
had its ups and
downs, but
there was never
a moment like
Valencia 2006
and the world
title.
