Former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden is looking forward to being the number one rider in the Ducati team next year but is still being coy about the prospect of having Andrea Dovizioso as a team-mate in 2013.
The Kentucky rider has been in the shadow of Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi since he joined the Bologna team and is now looking to be the team leader for 2013 and have former HRC man Dovizioso under his wing next year.
"It's absolutely up for grabs and I will have to step up and put my name on top. I am definitely looking forward to that challenge. Whatever happens, Ducati is working in a good way and certainly a little more attention on me can't be too bad," said Hayden, speaking to bikesportnews.com this evening.
"There will be certainly a few less guy hanging around which might take the pressure off a little bit so we can just focus on our job without all the other stuff. I will be sad to see him go, I enjoyed being team-mates with Valentino."
