Randy: Hayden in good nick

ByEurosport

Published 27/04/2006 at 15:09 GMT

Eurosport commentator and former MotoGP rider, Randy Mamola, believes that compatriot Nicky Hayden has come of age this season. The Repsol Honda rider heads into this weekend's Turkish GP seeking his seventh consecutive podium and Mamola believes that he

2006 Spanish GP Honda Hayden

Image credit: From Official Website

Hayden came to MotoGP with high hopes after easing to the AMA Superbike title at the young age of 21, but the hike in ability required to succeed at the top level, coupled with the pressure of riding alongside fellow Honda riders such as Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau, kept the Kentuckian on the back foot.

However, with the trio having now departed for various reasons, Hayden now finds himself as the most experienced rider following HRC's decision to promote young riders such as Marco Melandri, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Toni Elias.

2006 Spanish GP Honda Hayden

Image credit: From Official Website

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Mamola: "A great moment"

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That position holds great responsibility as Hayden now has the sole task of developing the 2006-spec bike that Biaggi and Gibernau failed to do last year. The demand, it seems, has brought out the best of Hayden as he has not only reeled off six straight podiums but with it a burning desire to win.

"Nicky has come of age this season, and that is down the fact that he is now the lead rider at Honda," explains Mamola. "He's doesn't have anyone to compare data with because he's the only Honda rider on that specification bike, but he's still managed two podiums.

"I could see how important this bike is to Honda after the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez," he added. "Dani Pedrosa had just finished on the podium on his debut but all they could talk about was Nicky's third place.

"It has been difficult few months for Nicky because he is the only person responsible for developing this bike," he explained. "He is a racer, there is nothing he loves more than winning races, riding the bike how he wants, but he isn't in a position to do that at the moment - he desperately wants to win a race.

"He won't give up but. He could easily get frustrated because both Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, who are rookies, have shown that last year's bike is still very competitive, but he's always been positive in the press and he's doing a great job."

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