"MOTOGP: Hayden Playing the Waiting Game"

American rider Nicky Hayden continues to play the waiting game, and there is more disappointment for the Kentucky Kid has been informed that their much-vaunted Honda, but still unproven, pneumatic valve 800cc engine V4 is not available for this purpose race week.

This means Hayden and Repsol Honda factory team of Dani Pedrosa returned to the race valve spring standard engine in this Grand Prix of Catalunya, the seventh round of the MotoGP world championship.

Following an assessment in the race last Sunday's Italian GP factory test pilot tady Okada seems that Honda engineers are not yet ready to take a risk with the engine problem. Okada showed the reliability was well finished the race distance at Mugello, but the engine still have problems, not least of which is fuel consumption, according to Hayden.

It has been reported that can expect to have a bicycle equipped with an air valve for the engine two-day test session in Barcelona next Monday and Tuesday, after the race.

This plan also aims, and then canceled, at the recent Estoril and evidence of Le Mans.

"I'm trying Monday and I know we have said before that but I saw the motorcycle sitting there," Hayden said in reference to the presence of one of the new bikes in the Barcelona paddock.

There was high expectation that both Hayden and Pedrosa would each
new engines to operate in practice, or perhaps the race in Barcelona. But Honda have not said, with engineers say they need more set-up time for both the engine and tyre choices.

The heavy air of disappointment at this new delay is a black cloud hanging over the Honda Racing Corporation.

"I had hoped that would be ready and I would like to use it (this weekend), that's obvious," says Hayden. "We originally hoped to use the engine in Qatar (first race) so it is not as shocked me - that has been postponed and postponed. My feeling is that if they (Honda) tell me that is not an option and not a level that is happy with, then they know. "

Hayden has been waiting eagerly for the air valve engine for five months in the hope that the greatest power output that suit both his style and chassis of 2008 for which it was designed. But after speaking with Okada after his career at the Italian GP seems there is more work ahead for Honda strangely waited five days to announce a decision taken at Mugello.

"It still has the same problems, the shutdown of the fund is still very aggressive, not too soft, and the overall package of performance is not where we want it to be," said Hayden. "I am a Honda guy and I have faith and confidence in them. I've seen what they can do."

The current situation is a clear test of patience for Hayden, the 2006 world champion, and Honda remains the only Japanese manufacturer unable to obtain a rapid and reliable air valve engine running in MotoGP.

Hayden is currently ninth to 40 points in the championship and classification has no hope of winning the title this year. With a little mystery, Honda chiefs refused to allow Hayden to run the air valve engine now in an attempt to obtain direct and comparable data to accelerate development.

"There is some reason do not want to do," he said.

Patience is also required of Hayden as his management of trying to renew his factory Honda to try to 2009 - and seek other options, including an opportunity with Ducati to replace Marco Melandri.

Promising novice Italian Andrea Dovizioso, with support from Honda in Italy, is rumoured to be in contention for the slot Hayden in the factory team alongside Pedrosa. Hayden has won a world championship with Honda and its management remain positive, but other options
Will be sought as a backup.

Other offers to continue for 2009 include Colin Edwards and Ben Spies.

Edwards has spoken with Kawasaki and is supported by the current number one John Hopkins, Kawasaki management but also have other riders in the study.

Marco Melandri, Chris Vermeulen are looking at various options 2009.

However, Edwards also has the opportunity to return to the World SBK championship with Ducati's outgoing champion Troy Bayliss recommend that Edwards should be his replacement next year.

If Spies racing in MotoGP may not be in a Suzuki with the factory team confirming that there will be no third bike for Spies, or any other person in 2009. Spies is in the market and Ducati team leader Livio Suppo confirmed an expression of interest from twice AMA Superbike champion. But Spies, as novice in Europe, will only be a contestant a Ducati ride the satellite Pramac staffing and certainly its management is seeking other teams with a vacancy, as if Edwards leaves Tech3 Yamaha.