Roger Lee Hayden gets LCR Honda chance

Roger Lee Hayden, younger brother of factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden, will replace injured Randy de Puniet in this weekend’s American MotoGP race at Laguna Seca.

Hayden will substitute for French rider de Puniet after he broke his left tibia and fibula in a crash during yesterday’s German MotoGP encounter at the Sachsenring.

Lucio Cecchinello was locked in discussions with HRC management on Sunday evening in Germany trying to hastily arrange injury cover for de Puniet, who underwent successful surgery to pin his damaged left leg on Sunday night.

Roger Lee, who has landed a wild card in the Indianapolis Moto2 race in late August, was confirmed as de Puniet’s replacement late last night.

He is currently riding for the Pedercini squad on a Kawasaki ZX-10R in World Superbikes.

Nicky Hayden will certainly be able to give his younger brother some advice having twice won his home race at Laguna Seca in 2005 and ’06.

But he is no stranger to the American MotoGP having raced as a wild card for Kawasaki back in 2007. He finished in a creditable tenth place.