Ducati Team's Nicky Hayden (Photo: Ducati Corse)

I've often wondered if Hayden might not be better served taking his talents to World Superbike and have written about it at length previously. It's a personal philosophy that a rider should strive to be at the absolute highest level where he has a legitimate shot at winning. For the record, Hayden still has that in MotoGP (albeit a long one) thanks to his factory Ducati ride, but if that spot had slipped away, would he have gladly taken the #69 plate and his major league charisma to World Superbike (something Paolo Flammini has openly long pined for), or stayed put, grabbing whatever lesser MotoGP ride he could find?

In that case, World Superbike seems like a natural fit, at least until you talk to the Kentuckian and better understand his mindset on the matter.

SPEED.com asked Hayden about it earlier this year. He paused before answering, "You know, racing motorcycles anywhere is not a bad thing, but I would have felt it was a step back. Those guys went there because they ran out of options in MotoGP.

"As tough as it is -- 'Oh, well you can go there and win.' Well, even if I did go there and win it would be… I came to MotoGP because I want to race against the best. I've only won three in ten years but still, the satisfaction of winning here beats that.

"I don't want to put World Superbike down because it is good racing and some good riders, but really, the thought of it didn't excite me. Okay, it beats riding the couch. Some World Superbike teams called and I said, 'I'll keep your number, but I really want to stay in MotoGP.'"

Of course, never say never. Who knows what's going to shake down in 2014… or 2020. World Superbike has become a popular retirement destination for GP pilots, with Checa and Biaggi winning championships in their late 30s and early 40s, while the once ageless Rossi is now eyeing a post-MotoGP future in World Superbike as well.

The feeling is that WSBK is something you can go do when you're 40… But that same fact also reduces the shine for Hayden.

"That's another thing… (The older riders) are winning there, and it takes a little bit away from it."