US MotoGP: Hayden leads American 1-2

Americans Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards struck a major blow for the sport of motorcycle road racing when they finished 1-2 and demoted the world’s best rider into third spot at the Red Bull United States Grand Prix here today. In showcasing the world’s best motorcycle racing event to the American public, Hayden and Edwards did their home country proud and will surely have enhanced the prospects for greater acceptance and coverage of MotoGP in the world’s biggest and most important motorcycle marketplace. For Hayden, with a career just beginning and a rockstar’s good looks and persona, his first MotoGP win is expected by many to move him into the elite and make him a regular contender for the win. For Rossi, it was business as usual because although he finish in third place, he extended his points lead to 79 points, giving him a three race lead (at 25 points for a win) with nine races remaining in the title chase.

It was only a matter of time before Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) made his talent felt in the hard-fought arena of MotoGP racing. The young American shone at his home race with a maiden pole and a career-first win. Not only did the American star provide Honda’s President, Mr Takeo Fukui who attended this race, with a victory, but Hayden also gave his father an unscheduled lap of honour on his all-conquering Honda RC211V Grand Prix machine.

The win was particularly satisfying for Honda – the official Honda factory team had not had a win since Rossi was last in their colours, at the final race of the 2003 season and no doubt they were feeling a win was long overdue. Similarly, Yamaha was celebrating its 50th anniversary at the event and had its official team decked out in the old yellow-and-black livery of Yamaha America, made famous by many racers over the years but particularly by the exploits of “King Kenny” Roberts who rode Yamahas to victory on every major stage of American motorcycle competition before winning three MotoGp titles in a row back in the seventies. Honda’s win rained on Yamaha’s parade and would no doubt have been particularly satisfying for Honda Japan given the importance and prominence of the win in this lucrative market.

That reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi finished third indicates just how much European riders were at a disadvantage – even the best the world has seen had no answer to the local expertise shown by Hayden and Edwards around the twists and turns of this tricky track. Similarly, those riders who had seen the circuit before from the recent rounds of the World Superbike Championships had an immediate competitive edge. Aussie Troy Bayliss was welcomed by all back to the front of the field – his friendly off-track demeanour and honest on-track efforts see him without a genuine foe, which is rare in this cut-and-thrust world. Everyone seemed willing to laud his efforts in qualifying fourth, and surprised that he finished sixth, as the Aussie who once finished on a World Championship event podium after having crashed twice during the race, always races better than he qualifies … except in this case.

Two riders who definitely won’t be on each other’s Christmas list in 2005 will be Alex Barros and Marco Melandri – a crash on the first lap saw both of them park their Hondas for the day and a particularly heated debate raged in the pits for several minutes between the two, who both felt they were contenders for the win today.

In the final Hayden was magnificent at this challenging Laguna Seca circuit. Not only did he dominate qualifying, but the former AMA Superbike Champion made the race his own as he led from flag to flag.

Max Biaggi (Repsol Honda RC211V) made inroads into the World Championship points standings with a powerful ride into fourth place. The Roman closed the points gap significantly over his second-placed rival Marco Melandri (Team Movistar Honda RC211V) – at least for now.

But the day belonged to Hayden, and few competitors could begrudge the American hero his hour of glory. “This is great,” said Hayden. “At my home Grand Prix, this is my first Premier win and I want to make sure this is the start of something good. Thanks to Honda, thanks to my Team for making this happen.”

Rider Quotes: Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda, 1st: “This is like a fairy tale. To come to your home GP and be fastest in nearly all the sessions and get pole and then win is just a dream come true. It s been a while since I won anything – except the dating game TV thing – and this feels amazing. For the race I put my head down and just rode my heart out the whole race. In the middle of the race I saw the time gap come down and I thought ‘oh no’. but I kept focussed. Getting Earl on the back at the end is a real dirt track thing. I owe my family everything. My Mum and Dad have given up so much for us all as a family. I remember the roof leaking as a kid when it rained as all the money we had went into racing. This win is for everyone in my team – for Honda in believing in me and for all the great fans around this track today who helped me so much . Every dog has its day and today it all just came together. I’m going to enjoy this moment for sure."

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