Rossi denies rider rumours

Valentino Rossi has deneid rumours that he advised Ducati who to replace him with and what riders to sign for 2013.

For 2013 the Italian has gone back to Yamaha for a second snint, and there were suggestions that Rossi had suggested Dovi and Hayden once Ducati were informed of his decision.

“It is not true that I have proposed to keep Nicky Hayden another year,” Rossi revealed.

“I told them that I really like Cal Crutchlow, and that I have a very good relationship with him, he is one of the funniest guys in the paddock. I’m also very close with Nicky. We’ve know each other a lot longer and were Honda teammates for a year back in 2003. He’s a nice guy and very fast.

“But I have been no serious Ducati advice. It would have even been difficult for me to decide between Cal and Nicky.”

One of the theories is that Ducati elected for the Kentucky Kid due to the importance of the American market for Ducati. Hayden along with new recruit Ben Spies is a huge marketing tool in the US for Ducati.