Hayden was world champion in 2006

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has signed a two-year deal to stay with Ducati and partner Valentino Rossi.

American Hayden who won the world title in 2006 with Honda, has raced for Ducati for two years and is sixth in the 2010 season's standings.

The 29-year-old said: "Next year I'll be teamed with some guy named Rossi who knows a little something about bikes."

World champion Rossi, 31, will join Ducati for 2011 after Australia's Casey Stoner announced he was joining Honda.

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