Ducati MotoGP Video

One of the highlights at the Long Beach Progressive International Motorcycle Show was the appearance of MotoGP star Nicky Hayden on Friday, Dec. 17.

In this YouTube video, the Ducati Team rider, who is the new teammate of the legendary Valentino Rossi, discusses his beginnings in professional motorcycle racing, which includes an AMA Supersport Championship and also one in AMA Superbike.

"The Kentucky Kid" Hayden then discusses his graduation to MotoGP, and his adaptation to extensive touring around the world with the series. Hayden then talks about the drastic differences between the AMA Superbike and the MotoGP Ducati he currently races.

Hayden, who won the 2006 Championship on a Honda, joined Ducati in 2009, finishing 13th that year. Hayden finished the 2010 MotoGP season in seventh position in the overall points, 13 points behind fellow American Ben Spies, the new teammate of 2010 World Champion Jorge Lorenzo.

At the traditional post-season MotoGP tests at Valencia, Hayden and his teammate Rossi began prep work on the Ducati GP11 for the 2011 season, hoping to have a more refined machine.

The first official test of the 2011 season occurs at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia from Feb. 1-3, 2011.