The ex-Stoner Ducati MotoGP bike sitting in front of the Red Bull Indy USGP display at Mid-Ohio may hint of the future. image by jim mcdermott

Is Nick Hayden signing a contract with Ducati for 2009? Rumors have linked the American ex-world champion and the Italian thunder-squad for months, but with the calendar paging towards September the stories linking the two are becoming more common.

Hayden has thus-far refused to comment on the prospect of going to Ducati. Like most factory Honda riders, his current agreement has strict policies regarding this period and what he can and cannot say on the subject.

After speaking with him last weekend while he convalesced at home in Kentucky, the most Hayden would say on the subject of Ducati is that it is an interesting option.

Asked to address the rumors, Hayden thought for a moment and said, "I would be lying ... everybody knows, sure, we're talking. It's an option that I'm intrigued by."

While some feel it is unthinkable that Hayden would leave Honda, if it does happen it would be at least the third dramatic rider departure Honda has suffered in recent times. HRC star Valentino Rossi left the HRC fold for the Yamaha MotoGP team. Casey Stoner left the LCR Honda squad for the Ducati team. Both riders won the coveted world championship the season after they left Honda.

One rumor that Hayden would address directly is the one stating he met with Ducati MotoGP team manager Livio Suppo in the weeks after the Laguna USGP event. It's known Suppo was in the US on vacation in that period.

"No, I didn't. Honest to God, I never seen him," Hayden said. "I'm sure my managers have been talking, but no, I never met the guy or really even talked to him while he was here."