Fully behind the Kentucky Kid

It was another good display at Sepang for Nicky Hayden as he finished a solid fourth after a great battle with his Repsol Honda successor next year.

Just watching Hayden close down Dovizioso you could tell it was like a red rag to a bull and every ounce of me knew that Nicky would have a good go like we know he can. Nicky got by the Italian rider but could not make it stick and after making an error Nicky could only get within a whisker of Dovizioso by the chequered flag.

I am a huge fan of the Kentucky Kid and believe that he has had a hard time at Honda since his championship winning year. I have never for one minute thought that Hayden has lost motivation or that his Moto GP title was a fluke but next year could be a make or break season for him. I think the Ducati will suit his all out action style but one will not put a lot of money on it after the terrible season Marco Melandri has had onboard the screaming Desmosedici.

Nicky has had some inspirational performances onboard the Respol since the new era of 800cc came around, my particular favourite was Assen 2007 coming from way back on the grid and tracking Valentino Rossi to come through and score a podium after Valentino went into Rossi mode to outride Casey Stoner. Nicky needs a strong finish to the season and a real good start in 2009 and I think he’s got more world titles in him.

Simply unstoppable

I found myself sitting watching MotoGP once again on Sunday morning anticipating a red hot race between the world champion and poleman Pedrosa. After a lightening start from the Spaniard I thought, ‘great stuff now at least Rossi needs to work for it.’ However once again Rossi made the most sensational things he does on a motorcycle look so easy it makes me speechless every time.

After stalking Pedrosa for the first stint in the race Rossi pulled off an outrageous out braking manoeuvre on Pedrosa that seemed even too late for Rossi. Once again he made the apex and convincingly pulled away from the Repsol Honda rider. If there is one thing I will give Casey Stoner is that he has the fight in him to make it hard for Rossi but Pedrosa seems to have everything in abundance but this battling element to him. At Laguna Seca Pedrosa would not have lasted a lap in that Scrap between the Italian and Australian and we are yet to see a fairing bashing performance from Pedrosa.

Then again Pedrosa summed it up in a post race interview with the BBC in saying Rossi seems to find that extra something in the race that lets him have the last say. After that display in Sepang I think it's fair to say he was simply unstoppable this weekend.