German MotoGP: No new Ducati for Nicky Hayden

Nicky Hayden will not debut Ducati’s updated GP11.1 MotoGP bike in Germany this weekend.

Hayden had been pushing Ducati management to have the new Desmosedici for this weekend’s Sachsenring race, but he’ll now wait to get his first ride on the GP11.1 at his home round in Laguna Seca next weekend.

Team-mate Valentino Rossi has been using the new bike since the Assen round last month. The bike features the chassis and rear suspension system Ducati had been developing for its new 1000cc GP12 project as the Bologna factory desperately tries to help Rossi become more competitive.

But Hayden will have to wait for his GP11.1 first ride, even though two bikes built for him are in the Sachsenring paddock.

Explaining why he won’t use the revised version, Hayden told MCN: “Getting the new bike here was just wishful thinking. It was not something Ducati told me was going to happen, although I hoped for it.  The bikes are here and more or less ready but it’s more a matter of spare parts and engine mileage as to why we are not rolling them out here.  It would have been nice to get a feel for it here and better off for Laguna rather than going there with something I don’t know. But I’m grateful I’m getting the bike.  There was a time when I didn’t know if or when I would get it and I’ll have two bikes at Laguna.”

At the previous race in Mugello, Hayden had hinted that he might not debut the GP11.1 at Laguna Seca because it was too much of a risk to ride a completely new bike in his crucial home race.

But he said: “I think I’ll roll the dice and run it and take our chances at Laguna.”
The GP11.1 hasn’t inspired a dramatic improvement in Rossi’s results but Hayden said the bike was a step forward compared to the GP11 machine he is currently riding.

Hayden told MCN: “I have spoken to Valentino about it and its clear that it does a couple of things better. Valentino is much happier with the rear of the bike and the data shows the transmission is better in places but the front, which is our big problem, is the same. It doesn’t look to be a whole step but it is still new and needs more time and hopefully when I’m on it with two guys sharing data will help move things along.”