Superbike options diminishing for Hayden

Nicky Hayden all but confirmed today that he won’t be racing in MotoGP next year. The American, who won the 2006 premier class title, has been linked with a move to World Superbikes and it looks highly likely that if he races next year it will be in the production championship. Hayden did however also say that he is contemplating sitting out the year if he doesn’t receive an offer that gives him the chance to compete at the front.

With Yamaha having confirmed Sylvain Guintoli and Alex Lowes for next year the factory seats in WSBK are now filled and Hayden is left searching for a less competitive ride than he originally envisioned.

“I can’t say that we’re a lot closer to announcing plans for next year,” said Hayden at Aragon. “I’ve said all along that I’m talking to teams in WSBK and that’s no secret. Originally when I was thinking about moving to WSBK it was to be with a good factory team and bike and that was something that I thought could be fun and it would interest me.

“Now though all the factory bikes are gone so I need to see if I’d rather stay at home or else race in Superbikes on a less than factory machine. I need to wait and see what opportunities come up because I don’t really have any exciting options here in MotoGP; just stuff at the back of the field.”

When asked if he had other options on the table the American commented that he has been talking to a manufacturer about a potential test riding role but that with no offer on the table it’s still very early in proceedings.

“There’s been talk of a test rider role in MotoGP and maybe that could come with a wildcard but it’s not something that we’ve really talked about. I don’t want to say the manufacturer because I don’t want to start a story and it’s very early at the moment and there’s not even an offer on the table.”

Hayden, who won the 2002 American Superbike championship dismissed any speculation linking him with a return to the domestic scene in America by saying that,” I haven’t talked to anyone in Moto America because at the moment it doesn’t really interest me. The series is coming back but it’s still only got four factory riders so that’s not something that would really excite me and I’d probably prefer to do some MotoGP test riding instead.”