The Questions With Nicky Hayden

What was your welcome-to-pro-motorcycling moment?

Standing on the podium in Australia midway through my rookie year [2003]. It was a good feeling, seeing the huge crowd and watching them raise my flag.

Your most embarrassing moment?

Racing in Wisconsin, I jumped the start. Not by a little--I jumped way too big. I made a grade-school error and got to look like a fool on live TV.

If I weren't racing motorcycles, I'd be ...

That's tough. I've been racing my whole life. So have my brothers. My dad did it. I tried other sports, but I didn't have a good jump shot and I couldn't hit a fastball. In school I was pretty terrible--so this has been my meal ticket. I guess I'd be back in Owensboro, Kentucky, working at my dad's used car lot buffing cars.

If I were commissioner for a day, I'd ...

add another race in the U.S. [to two per year]. Spain's got three races. We could have one in Florida or Atlanta--somewhere close to home.

LAST WEEK
Hayden's July 23 victory in Los Angeles kept him in first place in the MotoGP standings--the only U.S. rider in the top six.

THIS WEEK
Hayden, 25, will be training at home in Owensboro, in advance of the Aug. 20 Czech Grand Prix.