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What Bike Will Nicky Hayden Ride in 2014?

We're drawing near the summer break of the 2013 MotoGP season, and in some paddocks, there is much stir, with contracts coming to an end and riders, teams and sponsors, alike, looking to get the best upcoming deals. Alongside Cal Crutchlow, Nicky Hayden's racing future is about to unveil in mid-season.
What Bike Will Nicky Hayden Ride in 2014? 1 photo
Photo: Ducati
The Ducati rider is a former MotoGP World Champion, but the last years under the red Corse flag are anything but the best memories. However, both the Kentucky rider and the Borgo Panigale team are dead silent, at least as far as official and clear statements are concerned.

Their declarations, if any, are more in the vein of "I/ we did not discuss, did not say," but winds around the MotoGP paddocks whisper about Hayden possibly going to World Superbike for 2014. Again, with zero info as of whether he'll be aboard a factory Panigale or other machinery.

Some claim that BMW and Kawasaki are already eyeing Hayden as a top rider for their WSBK teams, and we can figure out why. Hayden would be an instant favorite on the Superbike tracks and with him aboard, almost any factory team could really hope for a title in 2014.

Accordding to MCN, Hayden admitted he thinks about WSBK: "I have had some contact from WSB teams and I am interested. I would love to stay in MotoGP on the right bike and the right team but at the moment it doesn’t look so good. I want to keep racing, so I might have to look somewhere else and I have to look at what my options are and take the one I feel is the best. My first choice would be to stay in MotoGP on a prototype bike. I still believe I can run at the front. I saw Valentino (Rossi) win in Assen and that only confirmed that," added the American.

Ducati is obviously keen to keep Andrea Dovizioso and continue the development of the Desmosedici at the same time, but they're also having occasional chit-chats with Cal Crutchlow, as everyone knows the Englishman's Tech 3 contract ends this season, and he never missed an occasion to openly say he was looking for a factory seat.

Tech 3 is still not making it clear whether they did sign Pol Espargaro or not, and at the same time they claim they don't want to lose Cal. So far it looks like everybody is playing the silent waiting game, but we just know things will break loose pretty soon. Will Laguna Seca be the occasion? The weekend will tell.
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