Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden ducks home race predictions

Nicky Hayden has refused to make any predictions about his potential ahead of this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP clash in America.

Hayden scored one of only two premier class podium finishes in 2008 during last year’s storm-lashed Indianapolis clash when he was riding for Repsol Honda.

But his hopes of a repeat top three appear significantly reduced after a tough debut campaign for Ducati’s factory squad.

The 2006 world champion has claimed a best of fifth place the last time he raced on home soil in Laguna Seca back in early July, which remains one of only two top six finishes so far this season for the popular Kentucky rider.

But Hayden has ducked away from making any predictions ahead of this weekend’s Indianapolis race.

He said: “I’ve made predictions this year at certain places where I thought the bike was going to be good and then it was the complete opposite, so I’ve
learned with this bike you don’t anticipate anything, you just find out
 what it gives you.

“Even on set-up the book says it should do one thing 
and it will do the opposite.

“For Indy I want to believe it will work 
alright, but with all the quick changes of direction, that’s where I struggle on this bike.

“But there are some places it should work good like on the last part of the lap on the old surface, which has really good grip.

“The better the grip is the better I go with this bike.”