Nicky Hayden targets 2011 improvement

Nicky Hayden has targeted another major step forward in his factory Ducati career next season after an encouraging return to form in 2010.

The American was only denied a top six overall championship finish last season when he crashed out of podium contention at the final round in Valencia back in early November.

But seventh in the final rankings was still a drastic improvement over his first campaign with Ducati in 2009 when he struggled to finish in a lowly 13th place in the classification.

Hayden scored 59-points more in 2010 than his tally the previous season and as he prepares for the much-anticipated Ducati team launch at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy next week, the former world champion said: “My goal is to be on the podium more in 2011.

“My aim was to be more in the top five last year and I achieved that. I went from 13th to 7th in the points and I know I won’t make that step but I believe I can make another step.”

Next week’s Ducati launch will be the first time Valentino Rossi will be able to speak about his low key GP11 debut in Valencia prior to Christmas having been banned from making any public comments about the bike because of his contract with Yamaha.