Hacking gets Kawasaki nod for Laguna.

yes guy! congrats to jamie for getting the ride. i hope he does well.

Is this guy really 37? If so it doesn't make much sense to give him the ride. Sure he's quick but wouldn't Kwak be better off trying someone younger who may help them next season?

Also, interesting to hear his comments about the electronics on motoGP machines these days.......

He should just follow Westy round and watch him struggle. 37yr old bones take longer to heal. I really wish him a good ride but that thing can bite.

Yes he is 37 and it's great that Kwak will give hive the opportunity. It's really a "thank you" for being best of the rest behind Spies and Matt M in AMA. Kwak wanted an American and he has been clearly faster than Roger Lee this year and Roger has also been hurt. I think he will do a great job.

Go Hacker! Nevermind he's 37, he's working hard and faster than he's ever been. He earned the ride at Laguna, plain and simple.

Will he become an Anglo-American if he does well?

good news, well deserved - as long as he beats his etammate he s fine

Wood, probably, he's already billed as British born.

Hot off the press.... Luis D'Antin has resigned from Alice Team........Trouble at t'mill?

What's the low-down on this track record in Japan? Seems odd to me that a guy with little experience on a less than fast Kaw could set a lap record anywhere. Some super sticky tyres?

alice sh1tcanned dántín ...

What a waste of a seat, 37 year old never was, nearly as bad as Hopkins riding it. What is wrong with Kawasaki have the Japanese firm got a Hari Kari tendancy?

Its a shame Neil Hodgson didnt get a wildcard ride, he would kick ass! if he was riding a Ducati!

Hacking is one of the most talented riders ive ever seen he is as good as rossi, stoner and pedrosa he could be a motogp champion. One of the greatest riders of all time.

This was a great selection by Kawasaki Jamie has been Kawasakis best and most consistent rider world wide the past 2 years with 11 podiums in AMA SBK and has 5 wins at Laguna in the past. I think many people will have more respect for AMA SBK riders after Laguna because Ben Spies and Jamie Hacking will surprise alot of people with their results and talent.

It's a one-off wild-card ride, why should they stick a 19 year old or whatever on it? Some of you have some pretty weird point of views. They didn't sign him to race a MotoGP season, they are having him fill in for ONE RACE. Who cares what his age is. Did you lot b_itch and moan last year when Duhammel got a wild card ride? How about Bayliss when he beat the piss out of everyone at Valencia on that one off ride in '06? He was about 37 years old at the time.

I watched Hacking on tv racing at Miller and Road America in the AMA and he was the best rider after the Yoshi Suzuki's - he seem to recall him beating Hodgson on his Honda. So as a thank you from Kawasaki - good idea - but he's a bit old to do the 2009 season and I think he will struggle against the pro's in Motogp on a second string bike!

Trouble is he's another example of a rider in the backwater AMA who never got the break/didn't have any ambition to move up to BSB/WSB - I'm glad Spies has pulled his finger out so we can judge him against the cream in Motogp.

Looks Kawasaki can't be ****d for the rest of this season!! Makes you wonder if they will bother coming back next season!!

You people have to be the most judgmental, cynical, hateful lot of arm chair critics i have ever seen!! WHO CARES how old Jamie is!! The guys is a fierce competitor and he did win 2 TITLES IN THE SAME YEAR AT THE SAME TIME!!! SUPERSPORT AND SUPERSTOCK!!! How many MotoGP, BSB, or WSBK riders have done that? not to mention the other titles hes won and he DID beat Mladin at miller this year.

You people don't know WHAT opportunities hes had or not had so what the frack do any of u know about his ambition?? Americans RARELY get offered full time GP ride because most teams are biased to European riders.

Put down the HATERAID and lets see what he can do before u pass judgment!