Ducati have ended speculation regarding the future of Nicky Hayden by announcing they have signed a one-year contract extension with the American rider on the weekend of his home Grand Prix. Only one seat remains available at the factory Ducati squad with Cal Crutchlow strongly linked and current rider Valentino Rossi believed to be in talks over a return to Yamaha.
With the VW Audi group having taken over the Ducati operation, Hayden feels this is the best place for him moving forward and is especially happy to make this announcement on the weekend of his home event.
“I'm very happy that I'll be back with Ducati and back in MotoGP, racing at the highest level for a very important team. I love the guys I work with, I love the Ducati fans, and I love the brand. This is an important time for Ducati in a number of ways, and I'm excited that I'll continue to be a part of it. I feel like I've got some unfinished business here, and hopefully we can get all the pieces into place and reap the rewards of the hard work we've put in the last couple of years. It's nice to be able to make this announcement at Laguna and to share the moment with my fans, friends and family. If I can do a good result on Sunday, it could make for a pretty special birthday weekend.”