MotoGP Jerez test - Hayden happy with one-second gap

Ducati's Nicky Hayden is pleased to be less than a second behind fastest men after three days of MotoGP testing at Jerez and says he still has some ideas up his sleeve for Qatar.

The former world champion, who was seventh quickest and nine-tenths in arrears, reckons his suspension technician has some promising ideas to cut the gap more before the lights go out in the desert.

“We started winter testing in Malaysia with a bigger gap than we had hoped, but since then I feel like we’ve worked well and recovered some of the gap, although part of that is down to this track being shorter," said Hayden

"The test team is doing a good job with us, and I achieved my goal for this test, which was to be inside a second from the leader. Yesterday I didn’t feel like I was riding so well, but I went better this afternoon when it finally dried out. 

"There wasn’t much time, but the team did a good job. My suspension guy had a few ideas, and they seemed promising; it’s a good sign that I was a second faster than yesterday on a patchy track. There’s still a lot of work to do, but everyone’s really motivated for Qatar.”

By MotoGP desk

Image by Bonnie Lane