Nicky Hayden: ‘I expect more’

American Nicky Hayden has admitted that he expected much more from his recent 2009 MotoGP debut in Sepang.

The new factory Ducati rider was only 11th quickest in the Far East and struggling to get close to the blistering pace set by 2007 world champion Casey Stoner on the carbon fibre chassis GP9 machine.

He was also beaten by Finnish rookie Mika Kallio as he continued the difficult process of adapting to Ducati’s GP9.

The 2006 world champion told MCN: “I made some progress, but the truth is not enough. I expect a lot from myself and I expected to be a lot closer to the front. It is frustrating and I would love to be fastest and strut around with my shoulders out.

“Nothing’s easy but I believe I can do it. I’m no genius but I never thought this deal was going to be easy, I knew it would take a lot of work and effort.”