PIC: Nicky Hayden back at Repsol Honda
Nicky Hayden rode a Repsol Honda for the first time since 2008 during this morning's wet opening practice session for the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island.
Hayden spent the opening six years of his MotoGP career at the factory Honda team, from 2003-2008, winning the world championship in 2006.
After riding for Ducati and then Aspar, the 35-year-old American switched to World Superbike at the end of last season. He has been called-up by his old team following Dani Pedrosa's collarbone injury last weekend at Motegi.
The American was tenth fastest in FP1, 2.055s from pace setter Cal Crutchlow and within 1.5s of team-mate and newly crowned triple world champion Marc Marquez.
Hayden has already made one previous MotoGP start this season, standing in at Marc VDS for Aragon, where he finished 15th in his first race on the new generation Michelin tyres and unified ECU.
The #69 will expect to beat that result at one of his favourite circuits this weekend.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
