Good move for both parties?? From MotorcycleUSA.com
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/913/1...y-Hayden-Signs-with-Aspar-Honda-for-2014.aspx
The future of former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has been in question since Ducati announced it wouldn’t be retaining the American rider in 2014, opting instead to sign Cal Crutchlow to the factory Ducati GP team. That ambiguity was cleared up today with the announcement that Hayden has signed a two-year deal to ride for the Power Electronics Aspar Team next year. Hayden enjoyed his greatest success aboard Honda machinery, winning the 2006 MotoGP title while competing for the Repsol Honda team. Since 2009, he has competed in GP riding for the factory Ducati team with mixed results.
“Sometimes when you think things fell apart maybe they was just falling into place,” Hayden wrote on his Twitter account, adding “Thanks to everybody who helped make this happen & my fans still behind me. Looking forward to the future.”
Valencia-based Aspar also announced it will be switching to Honda’s “RCV1000R” next year after competing in the Claiming Rule Team class the last two years on an Aprilia ART GP motorcycle. The new contract with Honda is for two years initially. Aspar currently fields two riders, Aleix Espargaro and Randy de Puniet, with Espargaro leading all CRT riders in 11th place.
“It is great news for the Power Electronics Aspar Team to have the acquired services of Honda and a rider of the profile of Nicky Hayden,” said Team Aspar. “We are taking a huge step forward in terms of quality, prestige and image. We have grown a lot in a short space of time and we are all very excited about this new project with Honda.”
The Power Electronics Aspar Team reportedly will field two riders next year, with Hiroshi Aoyama’s name being tossed around as one of the riders who potentially will be joining Hayden in 2014.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/913/1...y-Hayden-Signs-with-Aspar-Honda-for-2014.aspx
The future of former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has been in question since Ducati announced it wouldn’t be retaining the American rider in 2014, opting instead to sign Cal Crutchlow to the factory Ducati GP team. That ambiguity was cleared up today with the announcement that Hayden has signed a two-year deal to ride for the Power Electronics Aspar Team next year. Hayden enjoyed his greatest success aboard Honda machinery, winning the 2006 MotoGP title while competing for the Repsol Honda team. Since 2009, he has competed in GP riding for the factory Ducati team with mixed results.
“Sometimes when you think things fell apart maybe they was just falling into place,” Hayden wrote on his Twitter account, adding “Thanks to everybody who helped make this happen & my fans still behind me. Looking forward to the future.”
Valencia-based Aspar also announced it will be switching to Honda’s “RCV1000R” next year after competing in the Claiming Rule Team class the last two years on an Aprilia ART GP motorcycle. The new contract with Honda is for two years initially. Aspar currently fields two riders, Aleix Espargaro and Randy de Puniet, with Espargaro leading all CRT riders in 11th place.
“It is great news for the Power Electronics Aspar Team to have the acquired services of Honda and a rider of the profile of Nicky Hayden,” said Team Aspar. “We are taking a huge step forward in terms of quality, prestige and image. We have grown a lot in a short space of time and we are all very excited about this new project with Honda.”
The Power Electronics Aspar Team reportedly will field two riders next year, with Hiroshi Aoyama’s name being tossed around as one of the riders who potentially will be joining Hayden in 2014.