Nicky Hayden Re-Signs With Ducati

Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati re-signed MotoGP competitor Nicky Hayden on a one-year deal, according to Crash.net.

The Kentucky-born rider was able to announce the deal at Laguna Seca, in front of his friends and family. Hayden currently accounts for half of the factory Ducati team, along with Italian rider Valentino Rossi, who has not yet revealed whether he will be back or not.

"I'm very happy that I'll be back with Ducati and back in MotoGP, racing at the highest level for a very important team," Hayden told the news source. "I love the guys I work with, I love the Ducati fans, and I love the brand. This is an important time for Ducati in a number of ways, and I'm excited that I'll continue to be a part of it. I feel like I've got some unfinished business here, and hopefully we can get all the pieces into place and reap the rewards of the hard work we've put in the last couple of years."

Before the deal was signed, rumors were flying that Ducati was interested in Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow, who is currently fifth in the MotoGP standings. Hayden is eighth overall in the standings, and eight points behind his teammate Rossi.