2006 MotoGP champion Nicky Hayen will ride for Ducati next season in place of Marco Melandri, who is leaving after a disappointing first year with the Italian team, it was announced on Monday.
''We are very glad to have Nicky with us. We are confident that his 'never give up' attitude, his riding style and personality will be an added asset to the team in 2009,'' Ducati Racing CEO Claudio Domenicali said.
The 27-year-old Kentuckian will join reigning champion Casey Stoner of Australia after six years with Honda and will begin testing with his new team once the MotoGP season ends in October.
Melandri had signed up for two years with Ducati but after a string of poor results this season he agreed to rescind his contract and has since been called to Kawasaki.
''I would like to thank Melandri for the professionalism he has shown during what has been a difficult year for him, far below expectations,'' Domenicali said.
''Unfortunately, his feeling with the bike never allowed him to ride the way he knows how. We all wish him a future rich in satisfaction,'' the Ducati chief added.
Melandri also came to Ducati from Honda and had high hopes as the first Italian to ride for the Bologna-based team since it returned to Grand Prix racing in 2003.
Hayden has had a disappointing season as well but on Sunday he earned his first podium of the year coming second behind Yamaha's Valentino Rossi, the current standings leader.
Sunday's victory made Rossi the most successful rider of all time in the premier class with 69 wins, one more than Italian motorcycling legend Giacomo Agostini.
The seven-time world champion is now firmly on track to clinch his sixth premier class title. With four races left in the season he has 287 points compared to 200 for Stoner and 193 for Hayden's Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa.
The next race is the Japanese Grand Prix on September 28.
Rossi has also won the 125cc and 250cc titles.
