Roger Lee Hayden signs for Pedercini Kawasaki in WSB

American Roger Lee Hayden will ride a Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R in the 2010 World Superbike championship. The 26 year old is the younger brother to former MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden and will now follow in his brothers footsteps and try and make his mark on the world stage.

In 2009 Hayden raced in the Daytona Sportbike 600  class for the Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki team. Hayden’s career began in 2004 in the AMA Supersport championship where he has won 13 races and was named AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year.

Hayden said: “I am really happy to be participating in the World Superbike Championship next year with the Pedercini Team. 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. I have experience on the Kawasaki Superbike, so that does not make everything completely new. 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!”

Hayden’s move to WSB won’t be an easy one – with 14 factory bikes on the grid along with a number of strong privateer teams, Hayden has a steep learning curve ahead of him, especially riding a privateer Kawasaki.

Hayden will get his first ride on the bike in an official WSB test at Portimao on 22nd to 24th January 2010.