Redding interesting Ducati and Honda

Scott Redding has seriously impressed the bosses of Honda and Ducati, with a MotoGP move in 2014 now seeming almost a certainty.

Redding’s representatives met with the Gresini Honda team met in Barcelona over the prospect of Redding joining up with the Italian side in 2014 on a Honda RC production bike, with a view to replace Bautista in 2015.

However, Redding has attracted the interest of another Italian team in the shape of the Pramac Ducati team, who may be able to offer the Brit a fully fledged prototype Desmosedici in 2014.

There have also been suggestions Redding could remain with his current Marc VDS squad, as they prepare a move into MotoGP, fielding Redding on a Kalex – Yamaha M1 machine.

With plenty of options for Redding to mull over, arguably the most attractive of the trio is the Gresini Honda one.

Gresini currently field a FTR Honda Fireblade CRT being ridden by Bryan Staring, but that is expected to be scrapped at the end of 2013, in favour of a new Honda production RC213V, alongside the prototype bike of Alvaro Bautista.

Honda team manager Livio Suppo told British newspaper MotorCycleNews: “Scott is a very interesting rider for us. He is doing a good job in Moto2 and of course as always to show the potential of any bike you need a good rider, so Scott is very interesting.

“It is hard for Honda to guarantee something that the team has to do so at the moment there is nothing in place with Fausto for 2015. It is too early to say. But a rider like Scott is interesting and it could be a good way to enter MotoGP with the production bike and then the year after with more experience you can move to a full prototype. I think the production bike will be good enough to let any rider show his potential,” responded Suppo when asked if move to Gresini could get Redding a guaranteed prototype ride in 2015.

Despite the powerhouse of HRC tracking Redding, it isn’t a forgone conclusion that Redding will be on a Honda next season. Last summer Redding tested a Ducati Desmosedici around Mugello, and the Bolonga brand retain an interest in the Gloucestershire youngster.

Pramac team manager Paolo Ciabatti also told MCN: “Ducati tested with Scott last year and we have kept the relationship and contact open. Marc VDS is a very well organised team and there were already talks last year about the possibility for them to be a satellite Ducati team. At the moment there are talks to see if there are opportunities to cooperate with the rider, team or both next year.”