Hayden 'quicker and quicker' with GP11.1

After a brief introduction to the Ducati GP11.1 during Friday practice at Laguna Seca, Nicky Hayden got his first day of serious action on the modified machine during Monday's Brno test.

Team-mate Valentino Rossi has used the GP11.1 - based on next year's Ducati and featuring a seamless shift gearbox - for the past five rounds. But with the Italian struggling to make clear progress, Hayden opted to continue with the GP11 until he could dedicate proper set-up time to the bike.

That came on Monday, when - after a brief run on the GP11, which he rode to seventh (one place but eleven seconds behind Rossi) in Sunday's grand prix - the American dedicated himself to the newer version.

Hayden was the top Ducati rider at the test, his best lap being 0.8sec behind the best 800cc lap of world champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) and 0.733sec quicker than Rossi.

The #69 also beat his best race lap by 0.731sec and will use the GP11.1 in the forthcoming Indianapolis event on August 28.

"Everything went pretty well today. We didn't break any track records or anything, but luckily the rain held off. I did one run this morning with the GP11 just to start from zero and then went straight in on the GP11.1," confirmed Hayden.

"Like at Laguna, I was immediately just as fast, but steadily through the day, I was quicker and quicker.

"Once again, the team worked like dogs, between working on my race bikes and preparing for the test. I enjoyed riding the bike, and it's always nice to see progress and have a good feeling, I plan to ride it at Indy.

"My sister's getting married this weekend, so we've got a pretty special two weeks coming up between that and my home GP."