MotoGP Valencia: Hayes faces 'huge challenge' this weekend
Hayes will swap his familiar R1 for an unfamiliar M1 on Friday
Two-time AMA Superbike champion Josh Hayes admits he faces a huge challenge when he steps into the shoes of Colin Edwards this weekend and races a MotoGP bike for the first time at Valenica's season finale.
The Graves Yamaha man was due to test the Monster Yamaha early next week but with Edwards' withdrawal following the injuries sustained in his Sepang horror crash which killed Marco Simoncelli, Hayes was given the opportunity. It will be a sea change for the American in terms of power, weight and especially tyres but he aims to give it his best.
"My aim will be to represent Yamaha and Monster Energy in the best way I possibly can while trying to do Marco and Colin proud. Obviously I am facing a huge challenge having to learn a new circuit while also trying to the adapt to the bike and the Bridgestone tyres as quickly as I possibly can," said Hayes.
"I honestly don't have any expectations going into the weekend other than to enjoy myself and do a good job for Yamaha and Tech 3. I am certainly very excited to experience Yamaha's MotoGP bike for the first time and be part of the final race in the 800cc era.
“I would like to say a huge thanks to Yamaha US, GYTR, the Monster Energy Graves Yamaha Team, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and Lin Jarvis from Yamaha Motor Racing for giving me this opportunity to race in Valencia. The circumstances leading to me being given this chance to ride the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP machine are not how I would have chosen at all."
Two-time AMA Superbike champion Josh Hayes admits he faces a huge challenge when he steps into the shoes of Colin Edwards this weekend and races a MotoGP bike for the first time at Valenica's season finale.
The Graves Yamaha man was due to test the Monster Yamaha early next week but with Edwards' withdrawal following the injuries sustained in his Sepang horror crash which killed Marco Simoncelli, Hayes was given the opportunity. It will be a sea change for the American in terms of power, weight and especially tyres but he aims to give it his best.
"My aim will be to represent Yamaha and Monster Energy in the best way I possibly can while trying to do Marco and Colin proud. Obviously I am facing a huge challenge having to learn a new circuit while also trying to the adapt to the bike and the Bridgestone tyres as quickly as I possibly can," said Hayes.
"I honestly don't have any expectations going into the weekend other than to enjoy myself and do a good job for Yamaha and Tech 3. I am certainly very excited to experience Yamaha's MotoGP bike for the first time and be part of the final race in the 800cc era.
“I would like to say a huge thanks to Yamaha US, GYTR, the Monster Energy Graves Yamaha Team, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and Lin Jarvis from Yamaha Motor Racing for giving me this opportunity to race in Valencia. The circumstances leading to me being given this chance to ride the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP machine are not how I would have chosen at all."
MotoGP Valencia: Lorenzo ruled out of season finale
Lorenzo will again be replaced by Katsuyuki Nakasuga
Factory Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo will not take part in this weekend's Valencia MotoGP seaoson finale as the surgery he underwent to fix the fingers he damaged at Phillip Island is not healing as fast as was initially hoped.
The Spaniard, whose second position in the title chase is safe, will again be replaced by Katsuyuki Nakasuga. He had been due to ride at Sepang and will now race at Valencia for the first time in his career. Lorenzo will, however, be in evidence at the track.
"Jorge continues to recover well from his surgery but unfortunately not quickly enough to ride to his potential this weekend. We look forward to having him with us on Saturday and Sunday to provide support for our replacement rider. The team are ready to give Nakasuga-san all the help he needs to get to grips with the Valencia circuit as quickly as possible," said team manager Wilco Zeelenberg.
Factory Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo will not take part in this weekend's Valencia MotoGP seaoson finale as the surgery he underwent to fix the fingers he damaged at Phillip Island is not healing as fast as was initially hoped.
The Spaniard, whose second position in the title chase is safe, will again be replaced by Katsuyuki Nakasuga. He had been due to ride at Sepang and will now race at Valencia for the first time in his career. Lorenzo will, however, be in evidence at the track.
"Jorge continues to recover well from his surgery but unfortunately not quickly enough to ride to his potential this weekend. We look forward to having him with us on Saturday and Sunday to provide support for our replacement rider. The team are ready to give Nakasuga-san all the help he needs to get to grips with the Valencia circuit as quickly as possible," said team manager Wilco Zeelenberg.
MotoGP Valencia: Crutchlow chasing Rookie of the Year crown
Crutchlow only has to finish ahead of Karel Abraham this weekend
Monster Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow is chasing the 2011 MotoGP Rookie of the Year crown at the Valencia season finale this weekend and only has to finish in front of Pacemaker Ducati's Karel Abraham to win that accolade.
Crutchlow is a single point ahead of the Czech Republic rider who currently has 56. The Coventry man will also get his first taste of the 2012M1 early next week when he tests the new 1000cc bike but will be without wingman Colin Edwards who has been replaced by Josh Hayes through injury.
“This weekend isn't going to be easy for anybody in the paddock after Marco's accident in Malaysia, but racing is the best way we can honour him and I'm sure that is definitely what he would have wanted. MotoGP lost an amazing character and a phenomenally gifted rider and my thoughts and prayers are with Marco's family and friends," said Crutchlow.
"All of us will go out this weekend determined to put on a good show that Marco would be proud of. I also want to wish Colin a speedy recovery and I'm looking forward to seeing him back on track soon. Valencia was the first place I rode the Yamaha YZR-M1 a year ago and I've come on leaps and bounds since then, so hopefully I can finish the season on a high. The Rookie of the Year title is at stake and I'll be proud to win it after a close battle with Karel all season.
"I'm also looking forward to testing the new Yamaha 1000cc bike next week. The bike has been very impressive in Brno and Misano and I'm really excited to see what 2012 has in store.”
Monster Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow is chasing the 2011 MotoGP Rookie of the Year crown at the Valencia season finale this weekend and only has to finish in front of Pacemaker Ducati's Karel Abraham to win that accolade.
Crutchlow is a single point ahead of the Czech Republic rider who currently has 56. The Coventry man will also get his first taste of the 2012M1 early next week when he tests the new 1000cc bike but will be without wingman Colin Edwards who has been replaced by Josh Hayes through injury.
“This weekend isn't going to be easy for anybody in the paddock after Marco's accident in Malaysia, but racing is the best way we can honour him and I'm sure that is definitely what he would have wanted. MotoGP lost an amazing character and a phenomenally gifted rider and my thoughts and prayers are with Marco's family and friends," said Crutchlow.
"All of us will go out this weekend determined to put on a good show that Marco would be proud of. I also want to wish Colin a speedy recovery and I'm looking forward to seeing him back on track soon. Valencia was the first place I rode the Yamaha YZR-M1 a year ago and I've come on leaps and bounds since then, so hopefully I can finish the season on a high. The Rookie of the Year title is at stake and I'll be proud to win it after a close battle with Karel all season.
"I'm also looking forward to testing the new Yamaha 1000cc bike next week. The bike has been very impressive in Brno and Misano and I'm really excited to see what 2012 has in store.”
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