Nicky Hayden is sure that the 'electronic problems' which cost him a podium finish at Assen will be fixed for this weekend's German Grand Prix at Sachsenring,
The 2006 world champion was denied his first podium of the season, and the first ever for the pneumatic-valve RC212V, when the new engine ran out of fuel on the exit of the very final turn at the Dutch TT, demoting him from third to fourth.
The problem was officially blamed on 'electronic problems', presumably since the engine management system should have prevented the motorcycle from running dry before the finish. A more simple explanation might be that 'electronic problems' referred to nothing happening when the spark plugs were fired, as there was no fuel left to burn.
Either way, Hayden always knew there was a risk is racing the new engine - which Honda had warned they were not yet happy with in terms of its electronics - but having struggled with the valve-spring design the American was prepared to take a gamble and his performance has taken a clear step forward in the past two rounds.
"The bike is working good, the engine is running plenty good, but we just had that little issue at the end of Assen which stopped me getting third," said Nicky. "I'm sure the guys at HRC will have the electronics all fixed for this race because I quite like the Sachsenring and I've always gone pretty well there."
Hayden finished third in the 2007 German Grand Prix and said there is a simple explanation for why he likes the tight and twisty Sachsenring circuit - the left hand turns.
"It's a short little lap and some people complain it's too tight and twisty but I like fast left-hand corners and it's got a lot of them. I'm a dirt tracker so I like going left!" he smiled. "The first bit is quite technical, then you've got that fifth-gear drop-off round the back which is really good, definitely one of the best.
"The key for going down that hill is getting the bike so you're confident in the front. The next right-hander [Turn 12] is a big one, it's blind and it's downhill, so you can't go tip-toeing through there if you want a good lap, you've got to be committed and charge it. Last year the track had a new surface because tyre wear had been a big issue there."
