Record books re-written at Laguna Seca

ruffryder · 07-14-2005, 2:52 PM

Congrats again to Nicky!!!

Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards scored a one-two for the home riders at Laguna Seca which was significant in many ways in terms of records and milestones:

- This was the first victory for Hayden in what was his 38th Grand Prix start, after qualifying on pole for the first time in his GP career.

- This was also the first Grand Prix victory in the premier-class for Honda at the Laguna Seca circuit.

- Hayden’s victory was the first for the Repsol Honda Team since Valentino Rossi won the final race of 2003 at Valencia.

- This was the first win for a rider from the USA since Kenny Roberts won the Pacific GP at Motegi in 2000.

- The victory by Hayden was the first in Grand Prix racing for a rider from the USA riding a four-stroke machine.

- Hayden becomes the youngest American rider to win a Grand Prix since John Kocinski won the Malaysian GP at Shah Alam in 1991.

- Honda’s win at Laguna Seca followed five successive victories for the Yamaha factory; the longest ever run of wins in the premier-class for Yamaha.

- These five successive race wins by Yamaha was also the longest period without a win for Honda in the premier-class since the end of 1999 and start of 2000.

- With Hayden being followed over the line by his fellow American Edwards this was the first one-two for American riders since Kevin Schwantz won the Spanish GP at Jerez in 1993 from Wayne Rainey.

- This was only the second time since Valentino Rossi joined Yamaha at the start of 2004 that he has finished behind his team-mate. The other occasion was at the French GP last year when his then team-mate Checa finished second and Rossi finished fourth.