Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden unfazed by Ducati rumours

Nicky Hayden reckons he’s not letting the constant speculation surrounding who Ducati might sign in 2010 worry him ahead of this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP race.

Ducati has already tried and failed to clinch a big money swoop on Jorge Lorenzo and Italian veteran Loris Capirossi also turned down the Bologna factory before he signed a new Suzuki deal.

It was revealed in Indianapolis too that Ducati was also in pursuit of Dani Pedrosa with the Spaniard still not having committed himself to a new two-year Honda contract.

All have been linked with taking Hayden’s ride but the 2006 world champion said he was unfazed by all the constant talk linking him with the axe.

Hayden, who will find out whether he will be retained by Ducati during next weekend’s San Marino MotoGP clash in Misano, said: “I’ve been in this game long enough and like it or not, MotoGP is a business.

“And if you look at the result sheets, maybe my results wouldn’t be good enough. They’ve (Ducati) got sponsors and people to please.

“I realise that I probably made some hard phone calls on Monday with some of them 12th places. Do I like it? No, because when I look in the mirror, I see why they need to bring somebody else in because I haven’t got the results.

“So that hurts when it’s on the inside. But that’s the business and they’ve got to do what they feel best.

“I don’t know if just bringing in new guys every year is the right thing and the best way to fix the situation. So we’ll see what happens.

“I still got this challenge and really feel like we can do it and I’m not ready to give up just yet.

“So we’ll see what happens. Do I get my feelings hurt? No, I’m not that big a sissy.”

Hayden even joked about his situation when talking about the rumoured £7m-a-year offered to tempt Lorenzo away from Yamaha. “If they make me that offer they made Lorenzo, then all things will be forgotten.

“Eight million a year will patch things up pretty easy, so we’ll be good,“ laughed the Kentucky rider.