MotoGP: Nicky Hayden confident for Estoril

Nicky Hayden believes he is capable of joining the fight at the front of MotoGP in 2008 after his morale-boosting fourth place in last month’s Spanish GP.

The American goes into this weekend’s Estoril clash in Portugal having put aside his dismal first race of the season in Qatar and he now believes he can threaten MotoGP’s big four.

So far in 2008, Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa, factory Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi and reigning world champion Casey Stoner have grabbed the limelight.

But asked if he was confident of getting back in the fight at the front he told MCN:  “I’d like to think so and I certainly believe in myself. I’m in a good spot and fourth was good last time out.

“I believe it but I’m not going to make a bunch of bold predictions because I need some help in a straight line if I’m going to really do anything. I need a fast bike just for my style and the way I get off the corner and my size obviously limits me.”

Hayden will test Honda’s factory RC212V fitted with pneumatic valves again after this weekend’s Estoril race.

The engine hasn’t been used since February after problems with power delivery during winter testing.