Kentucky-Kid.org would like to wish our favourite rider a wonderful birthday with his family and friends and hope that he’s not feeling old! Some say life begins at 30…

Today (Friday) will see Rossi ride the GP12, with Hayden getting track time on Saturday – at the same circuit where he took Ducati’s first podium of the season last Sunday.

With the Ducati test team concentrating on development of this year’s GP11, Rossi and Hayden will be supported by race team mechanics and engineers – under the supervision of technical director Filippo Preziosi – for the GP12 test.

2012 MotoGP rules allow a maximum engine size of 1000cc, although it is not clear if Ducati (or the other manufacturers) will use the full capacity allowed.

Ducati is the first of the MotoGP manufacturers to let its race riders test the 2012 bike. Both Rossi and Hayden are already under contract with the Italian factory until the end of next season.

Congrats Nicky, and let’s hope for more awesome rides like this one!

Nicky Hayden’s enthusiasm for start of the 2011 season was in full evidence at the Wrooom event at Madonna di Campiglio on Tuesday, where the American was present along with team-mate Valentino Rossi to discuss his approach to the new MotoGP campaign.

The Ducati rider, who had minor surgery on his wrist at the conclusion of the 2010 season, explained to motogp.com that he had enjoyed a good off-season: “I did some good training, now I’m ready and February 1st will be when the real action starts at the Sepang Test. I’m really looking forward to the season.”

Encouraged by the progress he made on the Desmosedici throughout his second season with Ducati, Hayden continued: “We made a big step from year one to last year on the Ducati, and the target is to do that again in 2011. They’re working hard at the factory and a lot has changed with a new team-mate coming in. Motivation is high. There won’t be any radical changes with the bike but we certainly want to sweeten it up in some places.”

The arrival of Valentino Rossi completes a line-up which both riders stated their excitement at, and Hayden is looking forward to working alongside the Italian once again having partnered him at Honda in 2003.

“It shouldn’t change our approach on my side. It’s true the whole Rossi-mania thing will be different, but we’ve been team-mates before and know how it works. It won’t be a negative, I’ll be looking on the positive side,” said Hayden. “He brings a lot of experience and knowledge with his people, and it seems some of the things we’re requesting are along the same lines, which is good for all of us. We have always got along well.”

“The mentality of Ducati is a team one, it really is a family throughout. I think that’s an advantage. We have a lot of work to do so we don’t need to be working against each other.”

Asked for a final thought on the 2011 campaign, Hayden stated: “I’m not one to make big predictions because it’s all talk until you get on the bike, but I know I have a really good team and bike, so we’re not planning to run around mid pack!”

As many of you will know, Ducati will be holding its annual WROOM celebrations tomorrow, including the launch of the brand new Desmosedici and our first look at Nicky being re-joined by his former HRC team mate, Valentino Rossi, in Ducati red!

Hopefully, I’ll have some news and media from the launch up here tomorrow, and stay tuned, as KK-org will be undergoing another facelift sometime in the not-too-distant future!

Kentucky-Kid.org would like to extend it’s sincere condolences to Tomizawa’s family and friends at this tragic time. We all know just how dangerous motorsport is, but it’s never nice to be reminded of that with the loss of a star rider whose star had just begun to shine brightly.

RIP Shoya Tomizawa, 1990-2010.

Nicky Hayden made it two Americans in the top three during qualifying for the Indianapolis MotoGP round, as the #69 claimed his first ever front row with Ducati.

Hayden qualified in the top-three 24 times as a Honda MotoGP rider from 2003-2008, but it took until his 28th attempt to finally do so for Ducati.

The 2006 world champion was on pole until 2010 championship leader Jorge Lorenzo lapped just 0.011sec quicker with three minutes remaining, then fellow American Ben Spies jumped ahead of them both to claim his first pole in grand prix racing.

Despite missing out on pole by 0.23sec, Hayden was delighted to put himself in a competitive starting position for an event where he took his first, and so far only, Ducati podium one year ago.

“I finally got my first front row with Ducati – it only took a year and a half!” he smiled. “We’re really happy for it though especially because it’s so important for tomorrow’s race.

“If I want to be running up front tomorrow I have to be there from the start and I told Juan [Martinez - Nicky's crew chief] before the session that we were due a front row and today was the day to get it.

“We found a decent setting on race tyres and when we put the soft compound in the jump was so big it felt like the kind of qualifying tyres we used to have.

“To have two American’s on the front row is great for MotoGP in this country and for everybody who supports it over here. Hopefully it brings out a big crowd tomorrow and we’ll do our best to put on a good show.”

Team-mate Casey Stoner will start from directly behind Hayden after qualifying sixth fastest.

The Australian had been fastest in both practice sessions, but the 2007 world champion – who fell this morning – wasn’t able to take advantage of the softer option tyre.

“I’m not very happy with this afternoon’s qualifying session, we expected to be a little faster,” he said.

“During the session we struggled to find the grip with the hard tyre so we spent a lot of time trying to fix it and unfortunately we tried a couple of different things and then when we switched immediately to soft tyres we had trouble with the setting and we didn’t have a lot of feeling.

“I’m a little disappointed for sure, but confident enough for tomorrow. I think we should have a bit better race pace than some of the riders in front of us today.”

Saturday marked only the second time that Hayden has out-qualified Stoner as a team-mate.

Qualifying Times

Hayden, who over the past two seasons has won over the Ducatisti with his positive and determined attitude, currently lies sixth in the MotoGP World Championship standings and is confident for two successful seasons ahead, which he will tackle with his trademark enthusiasm.

Filippo Preziosi – Ducati Corse Director
“We are really pleased that Nicky will be staying with us for the next two years. It is no secret that he is a rider who never gives up, his whole racing history shows it. As a person his tenacity is an example for us all because he shows us that nothing is impossible if you truly believe. His progress since arriving at Ducati has been impressive and I am sure this trend will continue in the future. Nicky is also a special rider because of his attention to every detail and for him having Valentino as his team-mate means a huge contribution towards the development of an even more competitive motorcycle. I think it is these characteristics that have won the hearts of all the Ducatisti and that is the reason why a Ducati is the bike for him right now.”

Nicky Hayden – Ducati MotoGP Team
“I am very proud to be signing for Ducati again. Last year I  felt like I rode for Ducati but now I really feel as if I am a Ducati rider. The team, sponsors and Ducati fans have really taken me in and supported me a lot and I really hope to pay them back with the results they deserve. Next year I’ll be teamed with some guy named Rossi who knows a little something about bikes! We’re going to have a strong squad – I won’t predict results but I have no doubt this team will have some real passion, real worth ethic and a lot of fun. It is the start of a new era at Ducati and it is an honour for me to be a part of it.”

On a personal note, I can’t wait to see Hayden & Rossi teaming up again! Ducati has got to have one of the strongest line-up’s going into the new specs for 2012!

Check out more on Nick’s official website.