PICTURES: Nicky Hayden's special Laguna livery.

Nicky Hayden's first home US Grand Prix as a Ducati rider will see the American race with this special patriotic livery on his Desmosedici GP9.

Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP world champion, won the grand prix at Laguna Seca in 2005 and 2006 for Repsol Honda.

The Kentuckian has qualified a season's best eighth on the grid for the 2009 race and will be aiming to beat his best finish of the season so far, also of eighth, which he achieved last time out at Assen.

The special livery first appeared on track in Sunday morning warm-up and will be available to buy on a limited edition Nicky Hayden Ducati 848 road bike.

More pictures below...