Nicky Hayden excited about 1000cc MotoGP switch

Nicky Hayden is ecstatic that MotoGP will revert back to a 1000cc format from the start of the 2012 world championship campaign.

The American believes the new rule, which will allow prototype 1000cc bikes and modified production engines like Yamaha’s R1 and Suzuki’s GSX-R1000, will bolster hopes of expanding the MotoGP grid.

And Hayden, who won the last 990cc premier class title in 2006, hopes the sweeping rule change will inject some much-needed entertainment back into racing.

The 28-year-old told MCN: “I love it that’s it changing. 1000cc would be awesome, if not bigger. I think its time that the series acted because something is missing.

“It is not getting the manufacturers involved and the racing is a little bit dull. But just 200cc more isn’t going to make us back to where we used to be.”

Hayden believes to recreate some of the epic battles witnessed in the 990cc era that restrictions will have to be introduced to limit the huge influence in electronic rider aids.

The factory Ducati rider added: “The reason it looks so easy now from the outside is that on corner entry the bike is so calm and stable it looks like your Grandad could do it.

“It is all down to electronics and the 1000s will be the same if they don’t somehow come up with a way to police it.

“The electronics could play an even bigger role and there are places, like on corner exit, on a 1000cc where the electronics will really work.”