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MotoGP
MOTOGP: Will Ducati Maneuvers Push Hayden To Tech3?
Nicky Hayden's racing future is still in question as the former MotoGP World Champion is investigating opportunities away from Ducati.
Ducati Team's Nicky Hayden (Photo: Ducati Corse)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Round 9 of the MotoGP World Championship from Mugello, Italy will air LIVE on SPEED on Sunday, July 15th at 8:00am ET. Qualifying will air LIVE all season long on SPEED2. #SPEEDmoto
Nicky Hayden accepts that he is not Ducati's primary choice as a rider in MotoGP for 2013 and he is investigating other options including at Tech3 Yamaha.
And his current superstar teammate, Valentino Rossi, has denied that he has endorsed Hayden over British rider Cal Crutchlow at Ducati for next year.
Presuming Rossi is with Ducati next year he says that in terms of a teammate that "Crutchlow or Hayden is the same."
And Hayden admits his future is up in the air: "I think it is normal, riders don't have a preference as a teammate. I'm happy that after two years Valentino is still supporting me and says it doesn't matter who it is; we have a great relationship.
"But I'm not the number one choice here (at Ducati) so I have to look around and think about my future. It's business, obviously. I haven't gotten the results in the last year and half that were expected so we'll see what happens. "But I have a lot of support from some people at Ducati so I hope we can make it happen."
Earlier Italian reports claimed that Rossi was recommending Hayden to Ducati bosses.
“No, this is not true," Rossi said. "I said that I like Cal very much and I have a very good relationship with him. He is one of the funniest guys in the paddock.
"But I also very much like Nicky and I know him better because we share time together and a team for longer. He is a good guy and very fast. But I don't give real advice to Ducati on this matter."
Rossi remains non-committal on his future as he continues to urge Audi to get involved in fixing Ducati's stalled race program.
Meanwhile, Crutchlow has been in detailed talks with Ducati for a two-year deal although he is still yet to receive a formal written contract to sign.
Crutchlow says the delay is not on his side and that the decision process has slowed and will now extend past this weekend's Italian GP at Mugello.
"All the main points have been discussed," said Crutchlow in relation to his Ducati deal as he awaits the formal paperwork.
An earlier time frame had pointed to this weekend's Italian GP at Mugello as being crucial concerning Crutchlow's future given that he is not guaranteed factory support if he stays at Tech3 Yamaha next year.
As to his own plans Rossi is still waiting ("I have to talk more with the Audi guys") in the hope that Audi will trigger a major shakeup at Ducati Corse to make the team more competitive.
Nicky Hayden accepts that he is not Ducati's primary choice as a rider in MotoGP for 2013 and he is investigating other options including at Tech3 Yamaha.
And his current superstar teammate, Valentino Rossi, has denied that he has endorsed Hayden over British rider Cal Crutchlow at Ducati for next year.
Presuming Rossi is with Ducati next year he says that in terms of a teammate that "Crutchlow or Hayden is the same."
And Hayden admits his future is up in the air: "I think it is normal, riders don't have a preference as a teammate. I'm happy that after two years Valentino is still supporting me and says it doesn't matter who it is; we have a great relationship.
"But I'm not the number one choice here (at Ducati) so I have to look around and think about my future. It's business, obviously. I haven't gotten the results in the last year and half that were expected so we'll see what happens. "But I have a lot of support from some people at Ducati so I hope we can make it happen."
Earlier Italian reports claimed that Rossi was recommending Hayden to Ducati bosses.
“No, this is not true," Rossi said. "I said that I like Cal very much and I have a very good relationship with him. He is one of the funniest guys in the paddock.
"But I also very much like Nicky and I know him better because we share time together and a team for longer. He is a good guy and very fast. But I don't give real advice to Ducati on this matter."
Rossi remains non-committal on his future as he continues to urge Audi to get involved in fixing Ducati's stalled race program.
Meanwhile, Crutchlow has been in detailed talks with Ducati for a two-year deal although he is still yet to receive a formal written contract to sign.
Crutchlow says the delay is not on his side and that the decision process has slowed and will now extend past this weekend's Italian GP at Mugello.
"All the main points have been discussed," said Crutchlow in relation to his Ducati deal as he awaits the formal paperwork.
An earlier time frame had pointed to this weekend's Italian GP at Mugello as being crucial concerning Crutchlow's future given that he is not guaranteed factory support if he stays at Tech3 Yamaha next year.
As to his own plans Rossi is still waiting ("I have to talk more with the Audi guys") in the hope that Audi will trigger a major shakeup at Ducati Corse to make the team more competitive.
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