AMERICAN MotoGP SUPERSTAR HAYDEN MOVING TO DUCATI IN 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008 – When American MotoGP superstar and fan favorite Nicky Hayden races in the 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he will ride the iconic red motorcycle produced by legendary Italian manufacturer Ducati.

Ducati Team announced Sept. 15 that Hayden, who finished second in the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14 at IMS, will join the Ducati Team for the 2009 season. Hayden will join current Ducati star Casey Stoner in a super team featuring two MotoGP World Champions, as Hayden won the title in 2006 and Stoner in 2007.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Hayden said. “I know it’s going to be a big change for me. I think it’s time to move on, try something different.”

Hayden, from Owensboro, Ky., is moving to Ducati after a long association with Honda. He has competed for the Repsol Honda Team in MotoGP since his debut season in the World Championship in 2003 and also won the 2002 AMA Superbike and 1999 AMA 600 Supersport titles, the Daytona 200 and numerous AMA Flat Track Grand National races on a Honda.

“I’ve been with Honda a long time,” Hayden said. “I owe a big thanks to everybody who’s ever worked with me at Honda, from my AMA days to my rookie year in MotoGP, right up to now. I’d just like to thank everyone, and the best way to thank them is to put up some results these last few races. That’s the plan.”

There are four races remaining in the 2008 MotoGP season. Hayden will be released from his Honda contract immediately after the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Oct. 26 and begin testing for Ducati on Oct. 27 at Valencia.

“We are really happy to have Nicky join us,” said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding product director. “We are certain that his never-say-die attitude, riding style and character will be great additions to our team in 2009.”

Hayden, 27, will replace Marco Melandri at Ducati. Kawasaki Racing Team announced the signing of Melandri for 2009 as teammate to American John Hopkins on Sept. 14 during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.