Laguna Seca MotoGP: Roger Lee Hayden told to impress by Kawasaki

Kawasaki bosses have told Roger Lee Hayden his Laguna Seca wild card is a chance to put himself in the shop window for a full-time MotoGP world championship ride.

The youngest of the Hayden racing brothers, Roger Lee, will ride a third factory ZX-RR in Sunday’s American MotoGP.

With Kawasaki considering extending its premier class involvement to three bikes in 2008, an impressive performance by Roger Lee Hayden this weekend could see him force himself into contention.

Current riders Randy de Puniet and Anthony West too are vying to keep their places at Kawasaki, with John Hopkins already signed and Loris Capirossi hot favourite to follow suit, their future may depend on Kawasaki committing to a third bike.

Anthony West is understood to be attracting the attention of D’Antin Ducati while Randy de Puniet is rumoured to have held brief talks with Suzuki.

A decision on a third ZX-RR for 2008 – likely to be a 2007 spec bike with the latest generation electronics – is expected at the Brno MotoGP on August 19, 2007 or at the latest in Misano in early September.

Nicky Hayden, who will line up with his youngest brother on Sunday bidding for a third successive Laguna victory, said: “I haven’t quizzed him but he seems pretty excited about it.

“He went to Japan to get a feel for it and he was really impressed with the bike, he could not believe how smooth it was, how easy it is to ride.”