Home favourite Nicky Hayden reckons younger brother Roger Lee has a big opportunity to put himself in the shop window having landed a chance to ride the injured Randy de Puniet’s LCR Honda in the American MotoGP this weekend.Roger Lee will replace de Puniet at Laguna Seca after the Frenchman suffered a double break to his left leg in a big crash during in last weekend’s German MotoGP at the Sachsenring.
And 2006 world champion Hayden is now hoping his younger sibling can showcase his talent in front of the MotoGP paddock.
He finished tenth on his previous MotoGP ride in the Laguna Seca back in 2008 when he rode a factory Kawasaki ZX-RR.
Speaking ahead of the American MotoGP race, Nicky said: “It is a big opportunity for him and a shame it kind of came then so rushed. Last time he got to test the Kawasaki and he was a little bit more prepared but he goes really good at the Laguna. He was ninth to the last corner when (Alex) Barros passed him and if you ask him he'll let you to know because he's correcting me all the time.
"The Honda's have improved a lot this season and they have made it very tougher, they are getting stronger every week, all of them. I have big expectations because he's my brother and maybe too much because it’s never easy to jump in at this level and on a short week. The Hondas are going good and have some upgrades from the factory and this is a track that Roger loves and I hope he puts on a good show."
Roger Lee currently rides for the Pedercini Kawasaki squad in the World Superbikes and will also compete in the next month's Moto2 race at Indianapolis in a Honda America effort headed by 1993 world 500cc champion Kevin Schwantz.
