Hayden still left with plenty of options

Nicky Hayden is a man in high demand. The 2006 MotoGP World Champion has revealed that he is in talks with a number of different teams in both MotoGP and WSBK during this weekends pre-race press conference in Indianapolis.

With Crutchlow taking the seat vacated by the American, he was asked where his future lies, and despite not having a definitive anser, he did say he expects to be able to announce something within the next few weeks.

“The last couple of weeks a lot of Europeans were on holiday, but in the next three to four weeks we have to lock something down,” said The Kentucky Kid.

“Teams are deciding on budgets and rules so it’s getting close. There are options in MotoGP and Superbike. I’ve had contact with teams in WSBK but no formal offers yet.”

With WSBK a viable option after making his name in the Superbike paddock prior to his MotoGP days, Hayden will inevitably receive questions over a potential return, but with Andrea Iannone’s Pramac seat the only unassigned prototype seat in MotoGP for 2014, and his five-year relationship with Ducati, there was the obvious question about making Pramac all American.

However Hayden played down such speculation, dismissing he has been in talks with the satellite squad, but he did reveal interest in the new Production Honda MotoGP racer.

Hayden obviously has previous with Honda in MotoGP, where he was from 2003 until his move to Ducati in 2009, also winning a world title in 2006.

“I’ve not talked to Pramac but I have been talking about the Production Honda, nothing too advanced though. For the Production bike we don’t know how competitive they’ll be with extra fuel and engines.

“The rules are changing in WSBK too. I want to be on the best package to run the closest to the front.”

With a triple header of races over the next three weeks, Hayden will have plenty of time to discuss his options in the paddock, and we may yet hear just where he’s destined by Misano.