MotoGP – Sepang Test Day 3 – Hayden “leaves” the 212 RC2007V with the best time

Best time for Nicky Hayden, who is preparing to finally return to the States for his brother Tommy's wedding and celebrate Thanksgiving after three days of very positive tests in Sepang, where he checked some things on the 2007 bike (with which he set the best time stopping the clock at 2'00”592) before concentrating on starting development of the 2008, where he worked on the engine, electronics, maps and tyres. In the next tests he will instead dedicate himself to the chassis. The word is up to him.

“We had a good last day and it was nice to set the best time. We had to check a couple of details with the 2007 bike right before we said goodbye to it. The bike worked very well with the Michelin qualifying rear, plus the circuit was certainly cleaner during these tests than in the race in October and the temperatures for that morning's lap were far better than on that Saturday of the great bonus, when we did qualifying, which was pretty much the hottest day of the year. Today we also worked on a few things on the new 2008 bike, especially on the engine, mapping, electronics and tires before working on the right chassis for the upcoming tests. We always knew it would be hard work to start with a completely new bike and I'm happy to have worked on it these days. I've improved steadily, and I'm happy, and now we know what we have to do. The weather was kind to us today and I had a snake-free day, which was an incentive! Now it's time to go home and I'm definitely looking forward to the break. In the last six weeks I have only been home 4 days and it will be my brother Tommy's wedding and Thanksgiving so it will be nice to come home.”

Marika Farinazzo