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Simoncelli making his mark in MotoGP

Marco Simoncelli is edging ever closer to his first MotoGP podium finish, but while he's making himself ever more popular with fans, his approach to racing is not finding favour among his fellow riders, as Toby Moody explains

I'll never forget Nicky Hayden's championship year in 2006 when it was "me and squirrel against the world" as he and his Dad Earl flew to every race from their base in Kentucky.

It was not an easy year as Hayden fought against a difficult clutch and a development motorcycle that was so different from the other Honda RCV 211Vs, but he and his Dad used every single possible advantage to work out who was doing what in the paddock; the press, the gossip columns and - most importantly - out there on the track. One easy way was by Earl hoovering up the printed press releases from every other team on Friday and Saturday evening. Much is given away in releases and many pieces of A4 made it back to the Hayden motorhome so he could analyse who was moaning, who was confident and who was struggling at what particular corner.

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