Le Mans MotoGP: Nicky Hayden finds French form

Nicky Hayden went some way to burying his Le Mans jinx this afternoon when the 2006 world champion ended the first free practice session in seventh place.

The Kentucky rider has never scored a front row start or a podium finish at the legendary circuit but rear ride height changes today helped him finish under a second off the pace of Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi.

Hayden posted a best time of 1.35.223 to finish just 0.134s away from the top six and 0.068s clear of fellow American Ben Spies.

Hayden said a mid-session change to his factory Ducati GP10 had helped transform his fortunes after he’d languished outside of the top ten for much of the opening session.

The former Repsol Honda rider said: “About midway through the session I wasn’t really improving and I started struggling but the last run the team made a couple of little changes and immediately I was able to drop half-a-second. I’m quite positive and hopefully we can take another big step for tomorrow.

“I was trying to get some more weight pitch, especially on the braking and we also needed to make the change of direction quicker and get more traction. It seems like the bike wasn’t getting enough weight on the front under braking and acceleration it wasn’t transferring enough to get a good bite. We raised the rear but tomorrow we’ll raise the front too and change springs to compensate.”

Hayden said the progress was testament to the improvements made in the way he now works and communicates with his Ducati crew.

Hayden initially struggled with Ducati in 2009 before the Bologna factory hired Sete Gibernau’s former crew chief Juan Martinez to step in as his lead engineer.

Hayden added: “The one thing I’m really positive about is the way we were able to make progress during the session. With a little bit of information those guys were able to take that and do their job to help me get around the track easier.

“We did the same thing in Jerez on Friday and that’s really important. You need the right guys that can take the information you give them and check that data and find a direction. Crucially we won’t have to wait until tonight and try it in the morning.

“Those guys at the front don’t wait. In the winter we were able to develop a lot better chemistry and now it is very encouraging for me.”