Ducati's Nicky Hayden thinks the experience of former factory Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso is the best option for his team going forward into the 2013 season after the announced departure of Valentino Rossi but was cagey about confirming the appointment.

Rossi, who publicly wished Dovizioso luck at Ducati yesterday, is returning to the works Yamaha squad for the next two years and it would seem the Monster Yamaha rider has snaffled the Desmosedici seat from under the nose of team-mate Cal Crutchlow.

"If it's Dovi, I think he's probably the best choice out there. He's got good experience coming from me. I'm happy. Spent years at Honda, then now Yamaha, and now come there. I think his experience can be beneficial to our engineers," said Hayden.

"How he'll go on the Ducati, we'll have to wait and see. Of course, I think one of the good things, Dovi doesn't make a lot of mistakes when he rides. He's pretty precise, and that's important. Because if you make a lot of mistakes on the Japanese bike, when you get on the Ducati, that's just double

"Well, maybe not double, but is more. So, yeah, hopefully he can bring some knowledge and help us be a good bike if he does come."