2006 MotoGP champion and World Superbike racer Nicky Hayden will stand in for the injured Dani Pedrosa at Repsol Honda for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.
Pedrosa injured his right collarbone in a crash during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi and returned to Barcelona for surgery.
Hayden has already competed this MotoGP season, having replaced Jack Miller at Marc VDS for the Aragon GP last month.
He will race at Phillip Island for Honda, before going on to compete for the Japanese manufacturer at the World Superbike finale in Qatar.
“First of all my best wishes to Dani, I’m sure he will come back stronger than ever like he always does,” Hayden said.
“For me it’s crazy hard work but it’s a chance, ten years after winning my world title, to get back to my old ‘dream team’.
“Doing a week-end in Phillip Island on a factory Honda, it’s pretty emotional for me to even think about it, and I’m very grateful for this opportunity and the trust that Honda gives me.
“I want also to thank my current team for allowing me to go and do this, and the sponsors. Everybody worked a lot on every detail to make it possible for me so now I’m excited to get on a plane, to get down to Phillip Island and hopefully I can do a good job for the team.”
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