Nicky Hayden officially began the build-up to the first-ever Indianapolis MotoGP event by riding a vintage Indian motorcycle around the legendary Brickyard, which has been redesigned to include a new layout specifically for motorcycles.
The Repsol Honda rider, one of seven Americans to have worn motorcycling's biggest crown, immersed himself in the moment, wearing an authentic vintage helmet and leathers for his ride on the Indian, which took part in the first Indy bike race in 1909 and left a definite impression on the 'Kentucky Kid'.
“When the bike first fired up, I wondered what I'd got myself into!” the 2006 MotoGP world champion admitted, “Then, when I was doing about 40mph down the straight, it felt like a hundred. I really enjoyed the ride though, especially my old school helmet - that was my favourite part."
Hayden has a good grasp of the sport's history and, after taking a look around the IMS Hall of Fame Museum, admitted that it was good to be making some, as opposed to reading about it.
“It is a real honour to be the first rider to lap the new Indy track and I can't wait to get out there on a MotoGP bike in September," he said, "I expect most of my hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky, to be there. They may have to close the town down that day!”
Hayden later rode a Honda CBR1000RR around the 4.216km circuit at more 21st Century speeds. When he arrives at Estoril for this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix, he will report his findings to the MotoGP safety commission, which looks after rider safety at all grand prix events.
The Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix returns two-wheeled racing to the Speedway in almost 100 years over the weekend of 12-14 September, two months after the regular USGP at Laguna Seca. Indianapolis is the third American track to host a motorcycle grand prix, after Laguna and Daytona, and Hayden will arrive at this year's events having won the 2005 and 2006 USGPs in California aboard his Repsol Honda RC211V.
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The Repsol Honda rider, one of seven Americans to have worn motorcycling's biggest crown, immersed himself in the moment, wearing an authentic vintage helmet and leathers for his ride on the Indian, which took part in the first Indy bike race in 1909 and left a definite impression on the 'Kentucky Kid'.
“When the bike first fired up, I wondered what I'd got myself into!” the 2006 MotoGP world champion admitted, “Then, when I was doing about 40mph down the straight, it felt like a hundred. I really enjoyed the ride though, especially my old school helmet - that was my favourite part."
Hayden has a good grasp of the sport's history and, after taking a look around the IMS Hall of Fame Museum, admitted that it was good to be making some, as opposed to reading about it.
“It is a real honour to be the first rider to lap the new Indy track and I can't wait to get out there on a MotoGP bike in September," he said, "I expect most of my hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky, to be there. They may have to close the town down that day!”
Hayden later rode a Honda CBR1000RR around the 4.216km circuit at more 21st Century speeds. When he arrives at Estoril for this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix, he will report his findings to the MotoGP safety commission, which looks after rider safety at all grand prix events.
The Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix returns two-wheeled racing to the Speedway in almost 100 years over the weekend of 12-14 September, two months after the regular USGP at Laguna Seca. Indianapolis is the third American track to host a motorcycle grand prix, after Laguna and Daytona, and Hayden will arrive at this year's events having won the 2005 and 2006 USGPs in California aboard his Repsol Honda RC211V.
crash.net