Nicky Hayden gets ready to race at Indianapolis

It was quite a contrast to Hayden’s “day job,” that of riding a Ducati Team motorcycle at 200 mph on the global MotoGP circuit, which includes the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aug. 27-29.

Members of the Zipp Speed Weaponry and Marian University cycling teams joined Hayden in riding around the Velodrome on a hot, humid day as a gathering of media photographed the Owensboro, Ky., native. Hayden regularly incorporates bicycle training as part of his fitness routine for competing in the MotoGP world championship.

“It takes a lot of fitness, a lot of strength mentally and physically,” Hayden said of piloting his Ducati Team motorcycle. “The bicycle is a good way to train the mind because sometimes it’s more about being mentally tough than physically tough.”

The “Kentucky Kid” has finished on the podium in his previous two races at his home track of Indianapolis and is looking for another strong run at the Brickyard.

“I like the track quite a lot,” Hayden said of racing at IMS. “It suits my style. The Ducati should work well there so we’ll see.”

Currently sixth in MotoGP season points, Hayden looks forward to seeing improved results and has the confidence necessary to have a solid race in front of his friends and family at Indianapolis.

“The season has went OK,” Hayden said. “We’ve been in the top five a lot but we need to take that next step and do better. We have the package to do it. I know I can do it. I don’t need to talk about. I just need to go out and do it when it counts.”