Photo: MotoGP.com
It looks like we get to see Nicky Hayden riding in the MotoGP class for at least one more year, as he is rumored to start the 2014 season aboard a Honda production race team Aspar will buy from HRC.
Aspar's boss Jorge Martinez made up his mind and announced that his team will no longer run with Aprilia (ART) engines. Aprilia's former racing engineeirng mastermind Gigi Dall'Igna went over to Ducati, and he was the only reason Martinez was using ART engines.
Their relationship goes way back in time, and with Dall'Igna gone, so are the ties binding Aspar and Aprilia. With Martinez employing the services of Hayden, it looks like this is a triple-win situation: he gets a top rider people love, Honda gets a seasoned rider helping them develop the RCV1000R machine and finally Hayden himself stays in MotoGP, possibly with a clear shot on Ducati.
Martinez also considered leasing a Ducati production racer, but Hayden back on Borgo Panigale machinery was a no-no. At the same time, Ducati's bikes will surely not be significantly changed for 2014, as Dall'Igna is only starting at his new job in early November.
No news on who will be Hayden's team mate, yet. Aleix Espargaro bought himself out from Aspar and will ride an NGM Yamaha bike in 2014, while Randy de Puniet may become a full-time tester for Suzuki. Aoyama, Laverty and Hernandez are rumored to be the riders Martinez will choose from.
Good luck for 2014, Nicky!
Source: A & R, GP One.
Their relationship goes way back in time, and with Dall'Igna gone, so are the ties binding Aspar and Aprilia. With Martinez employing the services of Hayden, it looks like this is a triple-win situation: he gets a top rider people love, Honda gets a seasoned rider helping them develop the RCV1000R machine and finally Hayden himself stays in MotoGP, possibly with a clear shot on Ducati.
Martinez also considered leasing a Ducati production racer, but Hayden back on Borgo Panigale machinery was a no-no. At the same time, Ducati's bikes will surely not be significantly changed for 2014, as Dall'Igna is only starting at his new job in early November.
No news on who will be Hayden's team mate, yet. Aleix Espargaro bought himself out from Aspar and will ride an NGM Yamaha bike in 2014, while Randy de Puniet may become a full-time tester for Suzuki. Aoyama, Laverty and Hernandez are rumored to be the riders Martinez will choose from.
Good luck for 2014, Nicky!
Source: A & R, GP One.
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