Ducati's Nicky Hayden has had no in-depth talks with Ducati's top brass about remaining with the MotoGP squad in 2013, he revealed today.
The 2006 world champion could do nothing but watch the deadline expire on his option with the team but the huge speculation as to whether or not Cal Crutchlow would sign this weekend was brought to a grinding halt yesterday when the Briton himself said that wasn't going to happen.
Team-mate Valentino Rossi was asked today whether would prefer Crutchlow or Hayden as a teamster, to which he replied that the Monster Yamaha man was a funny guy but: "I also like very much Nicky and I know better Nicky because we share time and team for longer. I think he he is a good guy and also very fast."
"Unfortunately, he isn't handing out the contracts," joked Hayden at the track this evening. "We have had a great relationship and after a year and a half it nice to see he is still in my corner and backing me, there is a lot of respect there. We have worked well together and we seem to be in the same direction.
"I've had some really good talks with (Ducati CEO) Del Torchio but no serious talks or anything."
The fact that Ducati haven't yet given Crutchlow a contract to sign, and didn't insist on making any big news at its home race, make give Hayden some hope it isn't yet all over...
