Poor old James Haydon...
 

Poor bugger..hope it doesnt effect him too much...I quite like the bloke...


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AIRWAVES DUCATI CONFIRM RIDER LINE UP

London, UK (22nd April)- With the third round of the British Superbike
Championship at Mallory Park rapidly approaching on 24th April, Airwaves
Ducati were today pleased to finalise their line up. The team announced that
Gregorio Lavilla will ride the Airwaves-Ducati 999F04 for the remainder of
the season as they continue their bid for the championship title at the
Leicestershire circuit. The Spaniard has been installed alongside
21-year-old Leon Haslam. The team also confirmed that James Haydon, for the
good of the team and Airwaves Ducati, would stand down for the rest of the
season.

Airwaves Ducati have made an excellent start to the season with Haslam and
Lavilla riding the Airwaves Ducati 999F04, currently lying second in the
championship. Having secured four podiums from four starts, the performances
of 30-year-old Lavilla have been very impressive and this has lead to James
making this difficult decision to enable the team to make today's
announcement.

Team Manager, Colin Wright, confirmed: "The last couple of weeks have not
been an easy time for all involved but the team are extremely grateful to
James for standing down and allowing Gregorio to continue riding. We
appreciate that this was the hardest of decisions for him to make and are
pleased to confirm that James will be with us at Mallory Park supporting the
team. We are fully focused on continuing the excellent progress we've made
in the first two rounds and are looking forward to the rest of the season."

James, although disappointed, commented: "This was a very difficult decision
to make but, for the good of the team and Airwaves Ducati, I will stand down
to allow Gregorio to continue to fly the flag for Airwaves Ducati. I wish
the team all the best for the rest of the season."

The team will now be turning their attentions to the race weekend at
Mallory
Park, aiming to secure their first victories of the season and keep the
pressure on the other teams.

Bit of a kick downstairs for James!

Tough for James, but what else could he do? If he kicked up a stink, what would the team relationship be like for the rest of the year?

He's gone up in my estimations.

Gentleman Jim
 

I have to say that James has done himself credit in taking this position as it would have been extremely hard for him. Here's hoping that Crash.net get behind finding him a competitive ride the way they did with Lavilla :saint:

The pressures on for GL now though eh ??!

Cool.... never rated haydon, always lobbed it on whatever bike he rides, I do however feel a bit sorry for him, is that 2 years without a ride as such? I can imagine there was some kind of monetary buy out in there, not bad I guess for not doing much.

Well we have GL to look forward to for the rest of the year, good news :D

My thoughts exactly JPM, bet he got a big fat pay off to accept this and sit on his arse doing nothing. Cheaper than running a third bike thats for sure.

I bet he'll be at Mallory this weekend... trying to get a ride :D

it says in the press release he'll be at Mallory ...

Weeksy, whens your first race this year ????

In reality, what else could the team do? If they dropped GL and reinstated JH they would have effectivley thrown all those great results in the bin?

Even though I like the guy, I have to agree with JPM too, Haydon is THE crasher. If he was younger and sooo fast, you could understand it, but he's experienced and still bins it for a hobby. It's been so hard watching him leading the odd race and just waiting for the inevitable dump.

Have to agree. Team would have been stupid to throw away GL as a rider. If he had not joined them then someone else would have had him (and the points he has gained). He is awesome to watch and I certainly look forward to seeing him at Mallory!

It is a shame for Hayden but there you go. In my opinion he has never quite attained the potential in his racing due to his tendancy to crash. I know that means you are trying hard but to be a champion you obviously have to keep it upright.

get JH on Pirellis and put him out on the bikes at the WSB meetings as a wild card, would certainly add a bit of extra interest .
I assume they are contracted to Dunlop for the BSB series with their regular riders and JH is no longer one of them. So if Airways were happy to sponsor a couple of WSB wildcard rides why not, I cant see the Ducati Factory complaining

Out of interest where was that release found. I have looked on Ducati UK, Airwaves Ducati and Hayden sites and not seen it?

there's a report on the MCN site

James Haydon

That says exactly what it does at the top of this thread :frog:

Strange nothing on their websites though

Any other outcome would have been a surprise, tbh. I bet if you'd ask Haydon in private, his statement above would sounds quite different.;)

Isn't it his crashing that got him into this situation in the first place? If he hadn't crashed in testing, Lavilla would be the one sitting on his arse, most likely.

Agree with most of the above, but let's not kid ourselves thinking this is in any way JH's decision, he's been sacked and will have a small pay off to compensate. Part of the deal will be that he toes the party line until his memoirs are published, simple business decision that JH will have had no say in.

He's had a lot of bad luck though and can still impress on his day, I really hope he gets something sorted. I love Kev's idea.

WeeJohnyB

rumour is that he is eyeing up the desmodue series !!??:lol:

Whatever they have paid JH it would probably be cheaper than repairing a load of crashed bikes. Better he gets back on bike cheaper to repair.

If GL had not done as well as he has it would have been a different story. He seems to be going very well on a bike/tyre/circuit combo he must be fairly unfamiliar with?

Excellent results so far.

JH might end up with Birdy???

Ray

[Edited on 22-4-2005 by Ray]

He could'nt do any worse than McWilliams!;):lol::lol:

I can't help feeling a bit sorry for the guy, he got a bum deal with FPR, - a year of doing nothing and then a poor bike compared to Corser (and his was not great). It looked like a good ride for him this year and now nothing. Remember this guy ran with the best of the BSB boys, anybody remember the Brands race he overtook John Reynolds (both ON THE same team, - Red Bull Ducati's)? Wonderful to say stuff it to team orders as he was leaving them at the end of the season. Best not tell a racer he is fired if you want him to follow team orders.

Met little James H a few years ago, - quite shy and unsure of himself but not daft, - perhaps too nice off of the bike which is why he lost his ride. Wish they could of taken the team up to a 3 man team.

If I had the money I would put him in my team, - but I would also put in Ruben Xaus. I believe that guys with this much enthusiasm have the potential to win championships, - one day they will stop crashing, they are both already damn fast. Haydons best ride? Thruxton a few years ago, 5 way dice for the lead with Hizzy etc.

ozz, - press releases were sent out from Airwaves, as above, - we got ours 9.08am today.

I was at Crescent Suzuki today and heard that James had been in touch with Paul Denning for a ride which he couldn't help with - suggested Kawasaki GP apparently. As Ian said the guy is hugely talented - but unlucky :(

Met James at Brands this year ,He's always got time for chat and great with his fans.Excellent rider - especailly on the Yamaha R1.
better luck soon!!

and he has a great helmet design, if you pardon the expression. Looks like there could be a Stobart Honda up for grabs, or even a Rizla Suzuki?

[Edited on 24-4-2005 by Ian]

Ian,

Pretty handy with the crystal Ball. Haydon is aboard the Rizla Gixer 1000 for at least the next two BSB rounds to allow JR to get his leg sorted out properly.

Ray.

Guess if you had a Gixxer thou K5 you could be on for some trick, slightly scuffed spares in the next few weeks courtesy of Cresent :D






Bit harsh I know, sorry JH

Proven bike with a proven "nutter" on board with a point to prove.


Dynamite:o:o:o

I can't wait.

Ray

will JR call it quits now?

also in MCN that Ducati want twins to be 1100cc - anyone fancy a 1098:D

Apparently McWilliams has quit after falling out with old Birdy so they are in talks with JH to replace after his Rizla stint.

Rumours are that he received his full yrs salary plus prize money that could have been won in exchange for a gagging (no jokes!) contract.

Like John said, no choice but not a bad business deal for JH after all:D

Going by some reports, Birdy isn't going to replace Jezza and will run two bikes for the remainder of the season.

Oh, and Ray, well said!