Benson hedging bets with Honda engine arrival

2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden may have taken one step closer to his first podium of the season in Jerez, but the American`s Chief Mechanic Pete Benson is hoping for further improvement from the `Kentucky Kid´ in the next few rounds. The New Zealander –who guided Hayden to the pinnacle of MotoGP two seasons ago- is also eagerly awaiting the latest version of the Honda RC212V engine to power his colleague to glory.

`We´re certainly hoping that the new engine will be ready to test after Portugal,´ said an eager Benson after Hayden took fourth in Jerez. `Engines are one of those things where you have a schedule but until they are better Honda won´t bring them, so we´ll see what we have when we get there.´

Hayden had previously taken development of his 2008 Repsol Honda machine down various avenues of development, including a reversion to last year´s model for the opening race of the season in Qatar. The 26 year-old had almost sole control over the progression of the RC212V, with team-mate Dani Pedrosa out of action for the majority of the preseason with a hand injury.