Ducati's Nicky Hayden has said there is absolutely no truth in the rumour he is considering a switch to the World Superbike Championship with the manufacturer and said there have been no conversations on the topic.

There has been huge speculation in the Mugello paddock that Hayden could be destined for berth alongside Carlos Checa if his seat is given to Cal Crutchlow but it appears the factory have cooled down on their approach with the English rider and, given Ducati's massive presence in the States, why would they get rid of their best performing employee. It may all hinge Rossi's decision, due to be taken at Brno latest.

"I know I'm not Ducati's number one choice so I know I have to look around. I have to think about my future and I have said from the beginning I like it here, the team is great, the sponsor is clearly the best in MotoGP but it's business. We haven't got the result in this year and a half maybe that I was expected to get so we will see what happens," said Hayden, speaking to bikesportnews.com this evening.

"If I'm I wanted I'd like to stay here and I have got a lot of support from people at Ducati so I hope we can make it happen. I haven't thought about World Superbikes but if I got clipped here I wouldn't probably not go to Ducati in WSBK. I have spoken to Ducati zero about that. It's never even been mentioned. That rumour is completely, 100 per cent negative."