Sun shining on Nicky Hayden

After impressive pre-season testing on the 150kg, 230hp Ducati GP10 race bike, American Nicky Hayden's fortunes are looking up for 2010.

While Australian team-mate and 2007 MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has rarely had any troubles riding Ducati's race bikes in the past, 2009 was a difficult learning curve for Nicky Hayden.

The amicable American started 2009 in poor form, though towards the end of the season seemed to have the bike's measure with a podium finish at Indianapolis in front of a home crowd.

However pre-season testing suggests Nicky Hayden will be able to more closely match Casey Stoner in 2010, with Hayden scoring the third best lap time in Sepang last month and the fifth spot in testing at Qatar last weekend.

The Ducati Malboro team has made changes to the power delivery of the GP10 race bike, returning to a 'big-bang' firing order which is rumoured to be easier to handle. Even Casey Stoner is talking up Hayden's chances, telling UK mag MCN: "This new engine character suits the other riders a lot better and they can understand [the bike] a lot better.

"If Nicky can fight for the podium and maybe some wins then that would be good."

"It has been a great couple of tests for him. He was fast in Malaysia and he was fast again in Qatar, so that is very good, especially for his confidence," added Casey Stoner.