Hayden To Switch To WSBK

Nicky Hayden announced in today's pre-event press conference, ahead of the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix, that he will depart the World Championship at the end of the season for the World Superbike Championship.

The American, a veteran of thirteen years, will ride for the Ten Kate Honda squad through to the end of 2017 where he will bid to become the first rider to win MotoGP and WSBK titles.

Hayden won the 2006 World Championship for Repsol Honda and has three Grand Prix wins to his credit. He made his Grand Prix début in 2003, ending that year with two rostrum finishes. He has been with the Aspar team since 2014 following a difficult stint with Ducati from 2009 to 2013. He will partner Dutch hotshot Michael van der Mark on a CBR1000RR Fireblade SP next year.

“Well this will be my last year in MotoGP as I'll be moving to World Superbike next year with Honda and the Ten Kate team. That's about all there is to it, not a lot more and nothing too dramatic! These last two years have been not so good and I wasn't in a position to get the result to keep a high level bike in MotoGP. I've always thought SBK might be something I want to try; I liked the racing there, the opportunity felt like a good fit.

“I'm getting a bit older but I still enjoy the sport and the game. It'll be a fresh challenge and a new opportunity to get there and have some more fun. Of course, I'll miss MotoGP and I've had a great opportunity here and been part of some great teams and worked with some great people, but nothing lasts forever and we gotta keep moving, go to SBK with Honda and hopefully have some fun.”

With Hayden leaving, 2016 could be the first season in forty years that does not feature any American riders.

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