Nicky Hayden Two weeks in Kentucky

IN THE PHOTO: Nicky Hayden and 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan at the Indianapolis 500.

The MotoGP season is really picking up momentum now, so I figured it was a good time to check in and let you know what I've been up to in recent weeks. We had a two-week break before the Catalunya Grand Prix, and although that's not a lot, it was enough to go back home and spend some time in Kentucky. It was good to get prepared for the summer and hang out with my family.

My brothers were both home most of the time I was there, so we did some riding together. JD Beach, a local kid who's riding AMA Superbike, has been staying near us, so he was coming out with us on bicycles and motorcycles. Also, an Australian off-road racer named Josh Strang, who's the reigning GNCC champion, was staying just across the bridge in Indiana. He and his mechanic came over and rode our turns track with us, then we went over and rode by his place, and we also rode bicycles together. It was fun, because I'm a huge fan of all different forms of motorcycle racing. I don't know a lot about off-road, so by the end of the week, he was probably tired of answering my questions about everything from what tires he uses to what their race starts are like. Those guys have a pretty tough program: they get no practice at all-just show up, get the green flag, and do a three-hour race! Anyway, that was pretty cool.

My niece is on a softball team, so I went and watched her Lady Cubs play a couple of games. My mom had a birthday, so we had a little party at her house with some family and friends. We played a softball game in the yard, and that got pretty competitive.

I also got to go to the Indy 500. They sent a plane to pick me up and gave me a police escort, which makes it pretty easy. They're working hard to put on a good event for the GP this year. They've got some new pavement and some new ideas, and I was really impressed with what I saw-I think it's shaping up to be a really good GP. I did some interviews with the local media while I was there and got to meet some of the drivers. I had actually met a lot of them before, because we've had mutual sponsors at times over the years. My sister and her friend came along as well. She's a big fan of fellow UK graduate Ashley Judd, so she was excited to get her picture taken with her. It was a good day.

While I was home, my brothers Tommy and Roger had an AMA Superbike race in Utah, in conjunction with the World Superbike race, and they got third and fourth. Tommy had won the race before, so they weren't exactly celebrating at Miller Motorsports Park, but I guess we're too greedy sometimes.

Anyway, as I mentioned at the beginning, we're now into an eight-week period that includes six races, and I'm enjoying the opportunity to spend more time with the team. Wish us luck!