Nicky Hayden will make a one-off return to MotoGP in this weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix. The 2006 world champion will stand in for the injured Jack Miller at Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS as the Australian recovers from fractures in his right hand which date back to the Austrian Grand Prix last month.
Hayden currently races for the factory Honda World Superbike team and the American has thanked his WorldSBK squad for allowing him to make one more MotoGP appearance.
“First of all I want to wish Jack a speedy recovery. He is a buddy of mine and he is a rider I believe in a lot, so I hope he can get healthy as quickly as possible to show the high potential we all know he has got. He just needs to get his body right so he can perform. This is an unusual experience for me because I’ve never been a stand-in rider before. But I have a good relationship with Honda and when the idea first came up they were behind it and Ten Kate gave me their blessing, so it is nice to go and help out another Honda team.”
“For me it just a chance to go and have fun. I’d probably be riding motorbikes anyway and I would definitely be watching the race on TV, so I might as well show up and have some fun. I know MotoGP is not a place that’s always easy to have fun because the level is so high but I’ve got a lot to learn and it won’t be a walk in the park. I haven’t ridden the bike and there are different tyres and electronics but I’ve got a lot of experience and I get another shot at MotoGP, which is great for me personally. I want to thank Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS for the opportunity and Ten Kate and my sponsors who all made it happen and I will try and do them all proud.”
Team Principal Michael Bartholemy is delighted to have Hayden on board and believes the break will do Miller some good ahead of the three flyaway races.
“Obviously we’d have preferred Jack to be racing in Aragon, but it’s the racing that is stopping the two fractures in his hand healing properly. It makes sense to have him sit out this race in a bid to recover ahead of the three overseas races, one of which is his home race in Australia. I’m looking forward to welcoming Nicky into the team and I want to thank Honda and Ten Kate for releasing him to ride this weekend. As a former MotoGP World Champion for Honda he brings with him a wealth of experience, which will be critical given the steep learning curve he faces with a new bike, new tyres and new electronics. I am sure he will do a stand up job for us.”
