Shortly after claiming his best dry qualifying performance of the season, Nicky Hayden indicated that Ducati Marlboro is not his only ‘good option’ for the 2010 MotoGP season.

Hayden is still waiting to hear if he will be retained by the factory Ducati team for 2010, but has done his chances no harm by being the top Desmosedici rider in all three sessions so far at Indianapolis, en route to sixth on the grid.

“I’ve been in years like this before,” Hayden said of his present contract situation. “I try to block it out and let the managers handle the thing. I got a couple of good options. I don’t know if I will be here in this [Ducati Marlboro] garage next year. But regardless, I feel pretty confident that I will have a good package.”

Ducati has an option on Hayden’s services until next weekend’s Misano round, but the Italian factory’s (unsuccessful) big-money quest to secure Jorge Lorenzo – plus rumours of discussions with yet-to-sign Dani Pedrosa – have left Hayden, and even absent team leader Casey Stoner, looking vulnerable.

With Fiat Yamaha having completed its factory line-up, and Honda intent on retaining Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, Hayden’s ‘good options’ may include Tech 3 Yamaha or a switch to another Ducati team, perhaps with full factory backing.

Regardless, a repeat of last year’s Indy podium would surely convince Ducati to give the 2006 world champion a second season at the factory team…

While I think Ducati would be stupid not to keep him around for a second season, the ball is really in Hayden’s court. Ducati have failed at courting Jorge Lorenzo and now may be in talks with Pedrosa, so Hayden’s place in the team is not assured (and if you believe the rumours, Casey Stoner might not be either!). Ducati Team Manager, Livio Suppo, recently spoke of his disappointment with Hayden’s results, so it seems as though he could be on shaky ground.

Tech 3 Yamaha would be a good option, as the satellite Yam (in the right hands) is capable of beating rival factory contenders on a regular basis. The Yamaha also seems to be able to suit a broader range of riding styles compared with the Ducati. However, Colin Edwards has had a standout season onboard the bike, and looks set to continue with the team, meaning that two Americans in the same team probably won’t be good on the marketing side.

All shall probably be revealed next week at Misano, when Ducati will decide whether or not Hayden will remain with the team. Smart money says he’ll stay, but regardless, he’s probably assured of having a seat in MotoGP in 2010 in some form or another.

Suppo also stated bluntly that he did not believe that Nicky Hayden was the answer to their problems. “Nicky’s results are disappointing, he is below our expectations of him,” Suppo said. But the Ducati factory team boss also pointed out that Hayden was making progress. “He was sixth in Brno, which is very good – especially when you realize that his lap times were almost good enough to be on the podium. Now we will wait and see what happens at Indianapolis, last year he did a good job. We will watch what happens and take it from there.”

Suppo refused to be drawn on whether Ducati would be exercising the option the factory has on Nicky Hayden this weekend. “I cannot tell you anything more. Not because I don’t want to, but because quite simply there is nothing to tell,” he told the German website.

While yes, Hayden’s results haven’t been close to Stoner’s, he has shown signs of improvement, and I don’t know why Suppo feels the need to “blast” his riders in public. Considering what Melandri went through last year, and Capirossi’s results in 2007 may have included a shock victory, none of their riders besides Stoner have ever really got the Ducati working for them. Yet they still feel that because Stoner can win on the bike, the second rider’s performance is not worthy and they replace him for another rider all for history to repeat itself again…

Also, seeing as Lorenzo turned down a massive sum of money from Ducati to stay with his Fiat Yamaha team, and Capirossi chose to stay with his Suzuki team instead of returning, Ducati are going to be pretty hard pressed to find a new rider if they feel Hayden isn’t part of their 2010 plans. Pedrosa may be “talking” with the team, but whether that bears fruition is anybody’s guess.

Undoubtedly, Jorge Lorenzo holds the key to the remaining seats, and whilst his bargaining with HRC is over (current riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso have basic agreements with the team for the next two seasons), speculation has mounted that he is now being fiercely courted by Ducati!

MotoGPMatters have reported (sourced from GPOne) that Nicky could be potentially involved in a rider swap with Lorenzo, meaning Ducati would get the Spaniard (who’s alleged to be tempted by a massive salary in the range of 4-8million euros for a two season contract AND undisputed number 1 status) and Fiat Yamaha would get Hayden in exchange. GPOne has reported that Valentino Rossi has already given Hayden the “blessing” should his former team mate wish to rejoin him!

But one must remember that just a few weeks ago, Livio Suppo was quoted as saying that the team were hoping to take up the option on Hayden’s two year contract, with the Kentuckian’s home Grand Prix at Indianapolis looking to be the fitting place to announce the deal.

Yamaha have also given Lorenzo an ultimatum; he must inform everyone of his intentions by next weekend, which means that the Indianapolis GP is going to be one heck of a media frenzy with so many decisions hoping to be finalised.