By Nick Mulvenney
SHANGHAI, May 14 (Reuters) - Nick Hayden took second placeat the China Grand Prix for an eighth successive podium to retain the championship lead on Sunday. He was still not happy.
In his fourth year in MotoGP with Honda, the 24-year-oldAmerican has topped the podium only once -- at his home race at Laguna Seca last year -- and the lack of victories is starting to grate.
"We're back on the podium again which is a solid result, so we'll take it," he told reporters.
"It's not what we wanted but we're not going to beat ourselves up too bad. We want to win and I'm going to try hard to go one better next week for sure."
To make matters worse it was his rookie team mate Dani Pedrosa who took the 25 points with his first win in the premier class in only his fourth race.
"I always believed I could run him down, I tried to go faster and faster but it wasn't enough," said Hayden, who trailed the double 250cc world champion for the last 13 laps of the race.
Hayden, the 2002 AMA superbike champion, topped the championship rankings for the first time after a third place in Turkey two weeks ago and has a whopping 32-point lead over struggling world champion Valentino Rossi.
"That's important, that's the bigger picture but we want to get some wins along the way," Hayden added in his distinctive Kentucky drawl. "I'd like to think it's going to come soon. Saying it's one thing, I've got to do it.
"I don't think it's just one thing I'm missing, I've been close a few times lately, it's just putting it all together and making that final step."
The last decade has not been great for American riders, with the exception of Kenny Roberts jr's championship in 1999.
Once they so completely dominated grand prix racing that the Italian successes in 12 successive races before Pedrosa's win this weekend was not even close to the record.
Freddie Spencer, Kenny Roberts sr, Eddie Lawson and Randy Mamola kept the Star Spangled Banner playing for 28 successive races over four seasons from 1982 to 1985.
Lawson combined with Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Rainey for another 12-race run later in the 10-year period from 1983 to 1993 when Americans won the world title for all but one year.
On Sunday, Hayden led home a couple of his compatriots with Yamaha's Colin Edwards in third and John Hopkins fourth for Suzuki. Was this the start of a resurgence for the U.S.?
"I'd like to think so, it's cool to have some American riders up here but I'm mainly worried about myself," Hayden said.
If there is to be a revival of the American challenge in MotoGP, they will not only have to deal with Rossi and the other Italian riders but a certain young Spanish rider too.
"He's a three time world champion on the bounce so we know he's a real deal. Really tough, really tough mentally," Hayden said of Pedrosa.
((Editing by Clare Lovell London Sports Desk, Reuters Messaging: clare.lovell.reuters.com@reuters.net))
SHANGHAI, May 14 (Reuters) - Nick Hayden took second placeat the China Grand Prix for an eighth successive podium to retain the championship lead on Sunday. He was still not happy.
In his fourth year in MotoGP with Honda, the 24-year-oldAmerican has topped the podium only once -- at his home race at Laguna Seca last year -- and the lack of victories is starting to grate.
"We're back on the podium again which is a solid result, so we'll take it," he told reporters.
"It's not what we wanted but we're not going to beat ourselves up too bad. We want to win and I'm going to try hard to go one better next week for sure."
To make matters worse it was his rookie team mate Dani Pedrosa who took the 25 points with his first win in the premier class in only his fourth race.
"I always believed I could run him down, I tried to go faster and faster but it wasn't enough," said Hayden, who trailed the double 250cc world champion for the last 13 laps of the race.
Hayden, the 2002 AMA superbike champion, topped the championship rankings for the first time after a third place in Turkey two weeks ago and has a whopping 32-point lead over struggling world champion Valentino Rossi.
"That's important, that's the bigger picture but we want to get some wins along the way," Hayden added in his distinctive Kentucky drawl. "I'd like to think it's going to come soon. Saying it's one thing, I've got to do it.
"I don't think it's just one thing I'm missing, I've been close a few times lately, it's just putting it all together and making that final step."
The last decade has not been great for American riders, with the exception of Kenny Roberts jr's championship in 1999.
Once they so completely dominated grand prix racing that the Italian successes in 12 successive races before Pedrosa's win this weekend was not even close to the record.
Freddie Spencer, Kenny Roberts sr, Eddie Lawson and Randy Mamola kept the Star Spangled Banner playing for 28 successive races over four seasons from 1982 to 1985.
Lawson combined with Kevin Schwantz and Wayne Rainey for another 12-race run later in the 10-year period from 1983 to 1993 when Americans won the world title for all but one year.
On Sunday, Hayden led home a couple of his compatriots with Yamaha's Colin Edwards in third and John Hopkins fourth for Suzuki. Was this the start of a resurgence for the U.S.?
"I'd like to think so, it's cool to have some American riders up here but I'm mainly worried about myself," Hayden said.
If there is to be a revival of the American challenge in MotoGP, they will not only have to deal with Rossi and the other Italian riders but a certain young Spanish rider too.
"He's a three time world champion on the bounce so we know he's a real deal. Really tough, really tough mentally," Hayden said of Pedrosa.
((Editing by Clare Lovell London Sports Desk, Reuters Messaging: clare.lovell.reuters.com@reuters.net))
