Hayden couldn't face another fourth
Nicky Hayden said he was not willing to accept narrowly missing out on the podium yet again at Aragon, after charging past Jorge Lorenzo on the final lap to secure his first top three finish of the year
The Ducati rider had four fourth positions earlier in the season - invariably missing out on the podium by tiny margins or due to last-lap passes.
He admitted he was dreading being in the same position again at Aragon had he not been able to overtake championship leader Lorenzo's Yamaha.
"The race was not easy with me and Jorge," said Hayden.
"I was able to stay there and stay there, but really there was nowhere I could ever get a wheel in.
"Then on the last couple of laps I was pushing hard and I just said 'not fourth again today...' and was able to make a move stick - kind of a backyard move - in the chicane and hold him off to the line."
The American's last podium came just over a year ago in the 2009 Indianapolis Grand Prix, and he was relieved to end the long barren spell.
"It's nice to be on the podium. It's been a really good weekend for us," Hayden said.
"I was fastest this morning and now the first podium of the year.
"It's taken a while, but it's nice to be up here and I'll try to get up here a few more times before the season's over."
Share Or Save This Story
Hamilton accepts blame for incident with Albon in F1 Brazilian GP
Ferrari drivers called to F1 stewards over Brazilian GP collision
Will Alonso's Indy failure end the age of versatility?
Nicky Hayden: Remembering motorsport's much-loved "one-off" five years on
MotoGP to retire Nicky Hayden's #69 as tribute to late 2006 champion
Driver involved in Nicky Hayden's fatal crash sentenced
Hamilton claims Dutch GP radio outbursts weren't "the best version of me"
WRC seeking Chinese manufacturer with plan of "six constructors by 2029"
McLaren appealing Monaco GP result "with a double intent"
The questions surrounding Plato Racing/CPRL after administration
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments