[deez]

6/18/2003
Nicky Hayden Will Race In The Suzuka 8-Hours



Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Honda's Nicky Hayden plans to compete in the Suzuka 8-Hours in Suzuka, Japan, on August 3.

That's the word from Hayden's manager, Steve Dicterow of International Racers.

Dicterow said Wednesday that Hayden has not done any testing directly related to the 8-Hours. But that shouldn't be a problem, Dicterow said, since Hayden is now familiar with Suzuka Circuit and is very familiar with the Honda RC51 Superbike.

Hayden’s teammate for the 8-Hours has not been announced, but reports that Nicky may team with younger brother Roger Lee Hayden are “rumormill-type stuff,” according to Dicterow.

Another American with tentative plans to do the Suzuka 8-Hours is Jason Pridmore, a regular with Endurance World Championship contenders Phase One Suzuki. Pridmore could possibly be paired with current Attack Suzuki AMA teammate Josh Hayes.

Edit: 8HR, sorry about the title.

[Bigtoe]

Is there a rule with the Suzuka 8Hr that says they can't run the RC211V? It would be great experience for Nicky to ride that.

[deez]

I do not think that it can be a prototype motorcycle, that it has to be production. The RC211V like any GP machine is most definitely considered a non-production bike.

[tigerblade]

booth23 : *The RC211V like any GP machine is most definitely considered a non-production bike.

In fact, the MotoGP bikes can't have any production parts. That's why the Harris WCM team hasn't been able to race yet. Their cases are still R1-spec.