Nicky, it's a no-brainer

Nicky Hayden has been served his notice by the Ducati MotoGP team and there is plenty of speculation about him moving to World Superbike, but really, his next move should be made by heart not head. He's still young and fit enough to become the AMA Flat Track champion. He even told Sideburn, back in 2008, that winning a GNC Mile was one of his greatest motorcycle wishes. Now's his chance.

He is a former MotoGP World champion. No MotoGP champ has gone to WSB. He has nothing to prove in road racing. And a decade on the top teams in MotoGP mean he doesn't need the money.

He could go back to America, still get the competitive buzz, without all the travelling and bullshit, have a two-man team, supporting a young rider on the way up, with the inevitable sponsorship Hayden could easily attract. He'd also put a spotlight on a sport he loves, that would, in turn, help the whole of US flat track.

Come on, Nicky, it's a no-brainer. G

Manic Cal

I love this advert for the 2012 Japanese MotoGP (spotted at the Death Spray blog). The manic manga Cal Crutchlow in the top right is my favourite. G

Hayden back on the Mile

Amateur video of Nicky Hayden on the Lloyd Brother's Ducati at Indy. Thanks to Tom and Andrew for pointing us in the right direction. G

Indy Mile photos

Crowd pleasers. Springsteen, Smith, Werner. I hope Kawasaki are giving them some love, because the Green Machine aren't getting many high profile wins elsewhere (Though we know Tom Sykes and Ryan Farquhar are doing the business on ZX-10s).
Smith, Carr, Bonsey, Halbert, Johnson. The Dash for Cash. Kopp qualified but didn't start.
Nicky Hayden did demo laps on the Lloyd Brothers Ducati 1000cc framer. He's just put in a request for a Sideburn T-shirt. No shit.
Right, when was the last time a multi-cylinder Kawasaki won a GNC main?
Do anything it takes to tuck in down the straights. 26 Brandan Bergen, 51 Steve Murray.
Carr led the main, but came in (a still great) second.
Matt Weidman on a high line. He finished 9th behind Mees.
Smith and Carr.
Now then, is that Fatty from Des Moines in a prototype FTWCo T-shirt, trucker cap and camo shorts in this AMA crowd shot?
JD Beach won the Pro Singles support race.
Larry Pegram on the other Lloyd Brothers Ducati 1000. Read about this bike in Sideburn 4.
Still got it. Chris Carr won the Dash for Cash from Sammy Halbert.
Kopp was back on the Ducati and came sixth, one place behind title rival Sammy Halbert. Sammy's trailing Smokin Joe in the combined championship, but leading the twins title race. We have a fantastic interview with Sammy in Sideburn 6

Photos: AMA Pro Racing

Indy Mile update

Rossi was supposed to ride but decided the night belonged to Roberts. I reckon he'll have a bit of practice and come back to put a real show on.


I'm a huge fan of blogs. I've found some great stuff that magazines just aren't publishing and few of the magazine staff are checking them out for leads or inspiration. Blogs are going to take over the world. Anyway, I say this because I turned on my computer this morning and we had a mail from Uncle John of Team Tenacious sending a bunch of images and this message.

Team Tenacious does the Indy Mile
Colin Heggarty running the Team Tenacious / Inglis Cycle / Kawasaki ended up 10th, the highest finishing Kawasaki in the Pro Singles event. Some of the folks representing Canada included Steve Ball and Mike Labelle running the Pro Singles and Don Taylor # 53 GN Twins, current Canadian Champion.
It was a busy day for all as that Indiana dirt gets everywhere and its a chore keeping up between races.
As everyone knows Kenny Roberts rode the TZ750 and maybe not as well known, Ben Bostrom took a spin after most of the crowd went home.
Cheers, Uncle John.

What synergy... we've got a big feature on the Bostroms going in issue 4. I bet Eric is gutted he didn't get to ride there.
So, I had a surf and found this good report on Superbike Planet. Now, blogs are good because we can link to sites that commercial sites would think of as competitors.

Finally, Giannis of the excellent Speed Junkies blog sent us a list of amateur footage of the Roberts' flying lap on the TZ.
clip 1
clip 2
clip 3
clip 4
clip 5
Yep, blogs rule.

Nicky had a good Sunday. I wonder if he'll ever race dirt track professionally again.

Nicky Hayden

Why did he gone and waste his time in MotoGP?
Hayden fans who haven't bought issue 1 of Sidbeurn should get the finger out. It includes an exclusive Hayden interview.

Hayden scoop

Our friends - Jess and Jeremy at Alpinestars fed us this scoop on the Sunday of the Jerez GP. It's Nicky Hayden (star of SB issue 1) and his new dirt track-lovin' leathers.

Jeremy from Alpinestars says "Attached are images of Nicky and Earl (with Earl in an ‘Earl’s Racing Team T-shirt), a couple of images we took of Nicky in his suit here at Jerez.

I spoke to Earl about the origins of ‘Earl’s Racing Team’ and in case you do not have the background, here is a brief summary that Earl gave me.

The idea came to Earl when he was racing in Enduro competitions in the mid-sixties. He started supporting members of the Hayden family who were primarily dirt track racing. Hence, the logo centres around a 750cc Harley Davidson. Earl’s Racing Team became truly significant when his three boys, Nicky, Roger-Lee and Tommy got into racing, as did his two daughter’s, Jennifer and Kathleen, for a short period. The logo was then adapted to include the boys names and Nicky has incorporated the bike and rider with his own ‘Kentucky Kid’ signature logo which, since Qatar this season, has been carried on the seat of his suit.

A short postscript to this summary, which Earl was very keen to point out was that Earl’s Racing Team, which has supported so many members of the Hayden fraternity over the years is still recruiting and bring on young riding talent. The latest recruit is 12 year old Jake Lewis from Princeton, KY who is continuing the dynasty and showing speed on the local dirt tracks."