Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Nicky Hayden fourth again in Sepang

Nicky Hayden was left to ponder a frustrating fourth place for the fourth time in the Sepang GP this afternoon.

The American failed to mount a successful attack on Andrea Dovizioso for third, even though he practically shadowed the Italian for the entire race.

Fourth on lap one, Hayden only momentarily passed the JIR Scot Honda rider twice. But try as he might, the Repsol Honda rider couldn’t deny Dovizioso a brilliant maiden podium despite applying relentless pressure.

“We knew it was never going to be easy – all weekend we’ve been sixth and seventh, and with the changeable weather we were never really able to find anything set-up-wise. Then we had a bad warm-up. 

“We tried some stuff overnight and went a bit backwards, so for the race I was quite unsure how it was going to go. We put the bike back to how it was yesterday morning, and it was okay, but I was just missing that little bit. The race honestly went better than I thought I would, it could’ve been uglier.

“I pushed hard, a couple of times I was able to get in front of Dovi, but he held tough. Man, he don’t give in for nothing. I enjoyed the battle, it was fun battling for the podium after the dudes up front took off early. I tried everything I could, I was pushing the front quite a lot, through Turn Three mainly.

“Maybe I should have tried something a little sillier on the last lap, that’s always hindsight, but sure I’ll beat myself up tonight, thinking I should have taken some bigger chances, but I was already pushing hard. Congratulations to Dovi on his first podium, he earned it.”