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Nicky Hayden, Part 2: "I'm not shooting all out for the top five - I want to win"

Friday, 23 September 2016 10:00 GMT

Back on track in MotoGP™ at MotorLand, part 2 of our interview sees the Kentucky Kid talk about his new home - WorldSBK

From Lausitzring to MotorLand Aragon and then on to Magny Cours…you talked about the differences in the bike on motogp.com - what about paddock life?

NH69: "It's very different. Like I said, the thing I like most about Superbike is that we get to race twice in one weekend. MotoGP™ is very intense and WorldSBK can be more relaxed, but Superbike is a different angle and I like how it's different. In America, GP goes to Texas and we go to Laguna. They go to Silverstone, we go to Donington. In Superbike they really let the fans in, up close - they can meet the riders and see the bikes…that's really cool. I also really like some of the fans in World Superbike. They've got their leathers on and you can tell they rode to the track. So there's differences - but it's all motorcycle racing."

So WorldSBK now feels like home?

NH69: "Yeah. I'm happy in Superbike and it's my home now. There have been riders who've been in MotoGP™ and then can't adjust back to the moving and the flexing - but I was pretty happy the first time I got on the bike in World Superbike and I was on the pace pretty quickly at the first test - which was actually here in Aragon. With the team we've really been able to improve the bike."

Has your MotoGP™ experience helped you in WorldSBK?

NH69: "I think my experience in MotoGP™ has helped us with the electronics. I really like the Ten Kate guys, they work hard and do their best. There are some things we just can't do but I accept that and I trust that they try the maximum. We've tried to get rid of some of the flex in the chassis, it's moving less now and the bike is more stable. We've improved the electronics and they don't have to do so much work. Improved every area a little bit - but we need to catch the front guys."

You've just had another podium in Germany and you've already won a race in your rookie year. What's the future looking like? Can you tell us anything about the new Fireblade?

NH69: "I don't have much I can tell you! We'll wait to see what the new bike is like. But the bike this year is competitive and I really trust the guys at Ten Kate. At the start of this year we had a couple of bad results and a couple of mechanical DNFs but lately we've been improving a lot. This year at the last two tracks especially - Jerez I know well and Qatar I know well - I hope to just have some good, fun races. I don't know what's possible but it's really fun just being at the front and mixing it up. It's also important to keep learning and gelling with the team - getting more information that will help us going into next year. I think together, when I see the lap times from last year and the gap to the winner I think it's clear we've worked well and Honda Europe have really supported us. All credit to the team, they've done a good job."

So where do you go from here?

NH69: "We're having some podiums and success but I'm a guy who wants to win. I'm not shooting all out for the top five - next year I hope to be able to challenge the factory guys and the Brits. Really get in there. Also in the Championship fight, fight for the title. Now there's the three British guys at the front dominating and I think it would be nice if we could have another guy up in the mix, or a few!"

Catch all the track action from the Aragon GP and Part 1 of the interview with the Kentucky Kid on motogp.com, before the American gets back on his new home turf for the next Round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at Magny Cours.