Another Hayden has risen to global racing status. For the 2010 season, Roger Lee Hayden will join Pedercini Kawasaki in World Superbike.
The youngest brother of MotoGP’s Nicky Hayden and AMA Superbike’s Tommy Hayden, Roger took the 2007 AMA Supersport Championship on a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, and was named AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year in 2008.
“I am really happy to be participating in the World Superbike Championship next year with the Pedercini Team,” Roger said. “It has always been my goal to race in a World Championship Series, and now I have the opportunity. It’s a big difference from what I did last year, but I'm ready and looking forward to taking that next step.”
Roger, 26, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has experience on a world-class level due to a 2007 MotoGP wildcard entry in the U.S. Grand Prix where he finished tenth, and recently finished 12th in AMA Daytona SportBike championship. Both were on Kawasakis.
“I have experience on the Kawasaki Superbike, so that does not make everything completely new,” he said. “It should be fun learning and racing at the new circuits and of course we have a home round in Salt Lake at Miller Motorsports Park. My first test will be at Portimao towards the end of January and I can't wait to get back on a bike again!”
Team manager Lucio Pedercini added: “We're very happy with our signing of Roger. He is a young rider and we hope to realize his full potential and guide him through his debut as we strongly believe that Hayden will put us in a good position to compete in the next Superbike World Championship. He has been competitive on Kawasaki machinery in the USA, he knows the Kawasaki ZX-10R and we want to continue developing his career within Kawasaki. We understand that Roger may need some time to adapt himself to our team, the new circuits and to such a difficult and competitive championship as World Superbike, but we are sure about his talent, motivation and determination.”
