Indy MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa approached by Ducati

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa is in negotiation with Ducati about a 2010 deal after the Bologna factory lost out on capturing fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo.

With nobody seemingly certain that Aussie Casey Stoner will return to ride for Ducati again as he battles to overcome recent health issues, Ducati has launched approaches on several big names in the MotoGP paddock.

But with Lorenzo turning down a multi-million pound deal to stay with Yamaha’s factory squad in 2010, Ducati is now locked in talks with triple world champion Pedrosa.

Despite Honda management announcing at the last race in Brno that Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso had reached a ‘basic agreement’ on new two-year deals, no official agreement has yet been finalised.

Pedrosa has certainly not signed his contract and continues to stall on signing an extended HRC deal as Ducati’s interest grows.

The 23-year-old, who won on his last visit to America in Laguna Seca in early July, said: “I’m just talking because at this moment I didn’t sign with Honda, so of course, if they (Ducati) are interested on having another rider then they have to talk to other riders.

“Nothing is clear at the moment for me. As I said in Brno, the things with Honda, that’s pretty clear and that’s important.

“If they (Ducati) are interested then it could be an option.”