Moto GP 2009 Starts This Weekend in Qatar

As we view various shots of Nicky Hayden, #69 and

the '02 AMA Superbike Champion and '06 World MotoGP

Champion, we look forward to the MotoGP 2009 Season

starting up this w/e in Losail, Qatar. You can follow the

events of the w/e via the MotoGP feeds on the left side of the

column, or go to http://www.motogp.com/ for the current schedule,

which is available either in local time (+3 GMT) or by clicking

on the link and having it translated to your local time in your

area. You can also follow through Nicky's website (http://www.nickyhayden.com/)

as well as through the other various road racing links and tabs on the left

side, as well, here. The race will also be tape-delayed on SpeedTV on

Sunday 4/12/09 @ 2200 EDT with the usual repeats on Tuesday 4/14

in the afternoon.

This is Nicky's first year since '97 riding anything other then a

racing motorcycle with the famous Honda wings on it. Over the

course of the end of last season we learned he was making the switch

to the Ducati team after having spent over a decade riding Hondas.

The switch has been a challenge, but like all else Nicky has ridden over the

years he will come to grips and should prove to be a contender after

some real track time.

The above shots were taken over the course of the last 11 years of Nicky

throughout several stages of his career. Starting off is Nicky leading James

Toseland on the #52 Tech 3 Yamaha during practice for the Inaugaral Indy

MotoGP Race in September 2008.

We then see Nicky leading Aaron Yates at Road America in the race one of

the June 2000 AMA Superbike weekend, and a shot of Nicky with his knee down going into a corner at Mid Ohio in late July/early August of 2000, as

well as following Eric Bostrom through the last set of turns at Mid Ohio during

the Sunday races that weekend. And finally, we see The Kentucky Kid pulling

a power wheelie at Mid Ohio in July '97 on his Hyper Cycle Suzuki 750 while

practicing for what was then the 750 SuperSport race in the AMA series. This shot was taken as they come out of the keyhole and head down the backstretch outside of the campground area at Mid Ohio, in Lexington, OH.

Enjoy the shots and get ready to follow and root for Nicky Hayden this year as

he takes on the monumental task of getting used to the Ducati and taking on the

world's best road racers throughout the course of the season. It should be exciting!