Hayden wins... on a dating show!

Nicky Hayden is expecting 'some heat' from his friends after beating an american football player and a singer to win a TV version of "The Dating Game," a show that pits three men against each other for the heart of a woman.

The game was staged outdoors on the Rockefeller Plaza set of the "Today" show, which is the highest rated morning show in America with an average audience of six million viewers.

People magazine was responsible for Hayden being on the New York-based show, with the 23-year-old Kentuckian was chosen as one of the '50 Hottest Bachelors of 2005' in the June 27 issue.

Joining Hayden in the roster of bachelors are actors Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Colin Farrell - all fellow motorcyclists - as is Dhani Jones, the american football star who was among the bachelors up against Hayden on Wednesday's "Today" show.

"Now that I'm in People magazine I hope these women start answering the phone when I call," Hayden joked.

25-year-old Sarah Hostetter (top pic) from Seattle, Washington, chose Hayden over the other two contestants on the show after asking each a series of questions. The first was what each looked for in a woman?

"A girl I can connect with. I've got to be on the same page with a girl," was Hayden's 'heart warming' response. As for the perfect woman, Hayden said, "A girl who's cool. Someone, like I said, on the same page, reminds me of my mom."

But the next question arguably played more to his strengths: "Whether in a car or on a bike what's the fastest you've ever gone?" Sarah asked. "I'm your man," grinned Nicky. "I get paid to go fast - I was kind of hoping I could sing for you - I've gone 215, 218mph top speed, so pretty fast."

Asked to choose among the three, Hostetter said: "I really like a man who can sing and I love athletes, and I don't know if my mom's going to be too happy about this, but I love a man who can ride fast."

"I finally won something this year!" joked Nicky, who is yet to win a MotoGP race. "It's kind of nice. I don't mind doing this stuff, but I really want to win races. It's definitely good for the sponsors. It seems to be getting a lot of interest for the USGP which is important for everybody."

"I didn't really realise how big this show was until my phone started ringing afterwards. It's cool to get picked," he added.

People Magazine is among the most successful publications in America with an audience of 40 million readers. Among them is Hayden's mother, Rose, a former motorcycle racer in her own right.

"My mom actually always reads the magazine," Hayden confirmed, adding that being in People is "definitely good for getting motorcycle racing. I always try to represent motorcycles in a good way.

"Racing has been so good to me and my family. I love bikes at all levels. It's nice to help the country see that it's not just all Hell's Angels and bikers. There's good people that ride bikes too."

But the publicity wasn't all positive since as soon as his TV segment was finished, Hayden started to take flak from his friends via text messages on his mobile phone.

"I'm sure I'm going to catch a lot of heat from my boys back home," he admitted. "Already got some text messages saying, 'I've fallen hard.' And 'Is this the one? Am I bringing her home for Christmas?' I'm sure I'll get a little bit of heat on it. But it's all good fun."

Hayden was in New York for a whirlwind day of media appearances between two races. The Repsol Honda team tested on Monday in Montmelo, a day after Hayden finished fifth in the Grand Prix of Catalunya, then on Tuesday he flew to New York and prepared for Wednesday's show, while finding time to go for a run in Central Park.

The former AMA SBK signed autographs for fans on the "Today" show and posed for photos on a Honda CBR1000RR painted in the colours of Hayden's RC211V, then attended a reception at People Magazine and an autograph signing session in the lobby of the Time-Life Building.

Hayden will be home in Kentucky for the weekend, then leaves Sunday for the Dutch TT at the famed Circuit van Drenthe in Assen on June 25, site of the seventh round of the MotoGP World Championship.